Located about 30km northeast of Hanoi, an old village well-known for itsmulberries and silk in the northern province of Bac Ninh is on thebrink of losing its craft tradition due to unplanned developments,limited production and labour shortages.
At present, only 10households in Vong Nguyet Village are still growing mulberries andsilkworms, and sell pupas to local markets. Three other families havetried to go on by buying cocoons from other provinces for weaving.
ChuThi Thu, 74, remembered that long ago, during the village's propertrading period, all families planted mulberries and raised silkworms.They all wove silk, and their products were used across the country. Butmany have given up their traditional work due to lower consumption, anddifficulties with technology and investment.
Resident Nguyen ThiTam said her family grew mulberries and wove silk for more than 30years, but over the past ten years they cut down their workload. Nowthey only breed silkworms to sell their pupas at markets.
Some households want to keep doing their traditional work. They go everywhere to buy high quality cocoons to make silk.
ChuVan Bac said his family did this work for 25 years. For the past sevenyears increasing pollution has stopped them from growing mulberries andsilkworms. Moreover, cocoon quality did not meet the increasingrequirements of the market, Bac said. These difficulties will soon forcehis family to quit the trade.
"To maintain production, myfamily must buy high-quality cocoons from other provinces such as ThaiBinh, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, and Vinh Phuc," he added.
Many youngpeople in the village are no longer interested in inheriting theirrelatives' businesses because of the low incomes they afford. They havetaken on other work or moved to cities to find jobs.
Le DacKhanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tam Giang Commune,said authorities had encouraged residents to keep traditionalcraftsmanship alive and coordinated with banks to help them distributeloans and find outlets for the products.-VNA
At present, only 10households in Vong Nguyet Village are still growing mulberries andsilkworms, and sell pupas to local markets. Three other families havetried to go on by buying cocoons from other provinces for weaving.
ChuThi Thu, 74, remembered that long ago, during the village's propertrading period, all families planted mulberries and raised silkworms.They all wove silk, and their products were used across the country. Butmany have given up their traditional work due to lower consumption, anddifficulties with technology and investment.
Resident Nguyen ThiTam said her family grew mulberries and wove silk for more than 30years, but over the past ten years they cut down their workload. Nowthey only breed silkworms to sell their pupas at markets.
Some households want to keep doing their traditional work. They go everywhere to buy high quality cocoons to make silk.
ChuVan Bac said his family did this work for 25 years. For the past sevenyears increasing pollution has stopped them from growing mulberries andsilkworms. Moreover, cocoon quality did not meet the increasingrequirements of the market, Bac said. These difficulties will soon forcehis family to quit the trade.
"To maintain production, myfamily must buy high-quality cocoons from other provinces such as ThaiBinh, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, and Vinh Phuc," he added.
Many youngpeople in the village are no longer interested in inheriting theirrelatives' businesses because of the low incomes they afford. They havetaken on other work or moved to cities to find jobs.
Le DacKhanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tam Giang Commune,said authorities had encouraged residents to keep traditionalcraftsmanship alive and coordinated with banks to help them distributeloans and find outlets for the products.-VNA
