Spring cocoon prices rise, silkworm farmers regain confidence in sericulture

    It is reported that cocoon prices have now rebounded substantially, with each dan of square-grid cocoons selling for 1200 yuan, and grass-cage cocoons also selling for about 900 yuan per dan. This good news not only brought long-absent smiles to the faces of silkworm farmers in Hecun Township, Tonglu, Zhejiang, but also helped them rebuild their confidence in sericulture.

Hecun Township is a major sericulture township in Tonglu County, with more than 5000 mu of mulberry fields, an annual rearing volume of about 10000 sheets, and an annual output value of nearly 10 million yuan. Due to the impact of the financial crisis, cocoon prices declined steadily over the past two years. Therefore, since the second half of last year, some silkworm farmers dug up mulberry trees to plant other crops, while others abandoned their mulberry trees and went out to work, seeking other ways to make a living. In just one year, the mulberry field area in Hecun Township decreased by more than one quarter.

However, this year's rise in spring cocoon prices has led some farmers who had abandoned their mulberry trees to rebuild and firmly strengthen their confidence in sericulture. Right now, busy figures of silkworm farmers pruning branches, applying fertilizer and tending mulberry fields can be seen everywhere in the township. "With prices like this year's, sericulture is actually quite good. Given the current price trend, I will raise several more sheets in the second half of the year and aim for a big harvest by the end of the year," said Lu Dinghao, a large-scale silkworm farmer in Houxi Village, Hecun Township, while pruning mulberry branches, full of confidence.