Abstract
The Republic of Uzbekistan has a history of several thousands of years as a relay station on the Silk Road. Since the economic dislocation after the independence from the former Soviet Union, the sericultural industry in Uzbekistan has declined, resulting in lack of international competitiveness in production of raw silk and silk goods. However, traditional industries of sericulture, silk reeling and textile manufacture have been unbrokenly passed down until today. Since the dissociation of Soviet Union, technical progress of sericulture and silk reeling has been stagnant, and raw silk or silk goods that have international competitiveness have not been produced. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology started a program entitled “Promotion of the silk-road silk industry in Uzbekistan - Developing a technology transfer model to increase sideline income of remote villages” in September 2012.
If it possible to rear silkworms in Khorezm Region in the western area of Uzbekistan, where the climate is harsh, it will be possible to rear silkworms in all parts of Uzbekistan. Rearing of Japanese silkworm strains that produce high-quality cocoons and raw silk was tested in Khorezm Region. From the test, it was found possible to rear the Japanese silkworm strains even in Khorezm Region, where the climate is harsh (hot and arid). Moreover, cocoons of higher quality than the strains imported from China were obtained at a higher yield.
