Silk production in arid regions: The case of Uzbekistan

Abstract

Sericulture originated in China and spread across the entire Eurasian continent as a representative agricultural technology. In arid regions, the environment is favorable for silkworm cocooning, making these regions suitable for producing high-quality raw silk with easily reeled threads. This paper provides an overview of the origins and spread of sericulture and introduces the current state of sericulture in Uzbekistan, which has recently become the world’s third-largest producer of cocoons. It also reports on summer sericulture utilizing Japanese techniques and discusses the practical aspects of technical guidance, examining the potential for sericulture in arid regions.