Energy News
FARM NEWS
In south China, silkworm farmers reel from deadly floods
In south China, silkworm farmers reel from deadly floods
By Ludovic EHRET
Qingyuan, China (AFP) April 25, 2024

Hose in hand, 40-year-old Zhu Huangyi cleans a small concrete room once home to his silkworms, two thirds of which were lost in deadly floods hitting southern China this week.

Just two hours from the economic powerhouse and megacity of Guangzhou, surrounded by lush subtropical vegetation, lies the village of Sancun, one of the worst hit by the recent bad weather.

Around a quarter of households in the village make their living from raising silkworms, insects that secrete precious fibres essential to the textile industry.

Although the water levels had dropped by the time AFP arrived, it reached two metres in some areas -- with devastating consequences for residents and the tiny creatures.

"We placed the worms high up but that wasn't enough," Zhu Huangyi told AFP, holding up a smartphone showing images of his cocoons floating sadly on the surface of the water.

"It hurts my heart," he said.

"It's an old family business, my mother got into this 30 years ago," says the breeder, whose property was also flooded in 2022.

Behind him, his mother Huang Xiuying scatters white detergent powder on the concrete floor of the enclosures to disinfect the area.

"We continued to feed our worms, even after receiving the weather alert," she says.

"We couldn't come to grips with reality," she explains.

Breeders sell their worms in their cocoon state, when they are most valuable, for around 40 to 50 yuan for a kilo ($5.50 to $7).

Zhu was able to save a third of them.

"After the flood, prices fell," he says.

"We were able to sell those that remained at 34 yuan a kilo."

That was their only way to curb their losses -- like many in the village, he had no insurance.

"Basically, it will cost us 40,000 to 50,000 yuan in losses," he explains -- a huge amount in rural China.

- 'I lost all my cocoons' -

Adding to the pain is the loss in the floods of the village's mulberry trees, the silkworms' only source of food.

"The other problem is our mulberry trees," Zhu said.

The only solution is to cut the heads of the plants once the water level returns to normal, then wait about two weeks for usable leaves to grow back.

Only after that will farmers be able to buy new silkworm eggs to replenish their breeding stock, which Zhu estimates will cost 5,000 yuan.

Another breeder Lan Zhukui is even less fortunate.

"I lost all my cocoons, around 150 kilos of them" with a market value of around 6,000 yuan, he explains to AFP as he cleans the floor of his enclosure.

"There's not much to do at the moment except wait at home."

At her breeding station, Huang is more philosophical.

"We're used to it!" she says. "Before, we were flooded every eight to ten years. Now it's more like every two years."

Related Links
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FARM NEWS
Philippine court blocks GMO 'golden rice' production over safety fears
Manila (AFP) April 25, 2024
A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns. The Philippines was the first country in the world to approve golden rice, which is enriched with the Vitamin A precursor beta-carotene and has a bright yellow colour, in a bid to combat childhood blindness. However, the Court of Appeals in Manila revoked a biosafety permit for commercial product ... read more

FARM NEWS
NASA's ORCA, AirHARP Projects Paved Way for PACE to Reach Space

High-resolution lidar unveils droplet formation in clouds

Spire Global to supply AI-Enhanced Weather Predictions to Financial Sector

NASA's CloudSat Ends Mission Peering Into the Heart of Clouds

FARM NEWS
Exploring the marvels of Galileo: Europe's satellite navigation system

TrustPoint Secures AFWERX Phase II Contract for Advanced Navigation Solutions

GMV Spearheads ESA's Mission to Revolutionize Satellite Navigation with LEO Technology

Aerospacelab and Xona Unite to Transform Satellite Navigation

FARM NEWS
How can forests be reforested in a climate-friendly way

Despite gains in Brazil, forest destruction still 'stubbornly' high: report

Europe's overlooked Aspen forests: key to enhancing biodiversity and climate resilience

Presidents of Brazil, France announce green investment plan on Amazon visit

FARM NEWS
Twisting semiconductors enhances clean fuel generation efficiency

Transforming CO2 into green fuel with innovative sunlight-powered catalyst

Turning CO2 into Methanol at Room Temperature

Tripling the US Bioeconomy: The Billion-Ton Report's Blueprint for Sustainable Biomass

FARM NEWS
Super grids could stabilize Caribbean power during hurricanes, study finds

Survey reveals broad support for solar projects among nearby residents

Enhancing solar power access in Southern California's underserved communities

Solar energy adoption challenges in rural Ethiopia

FARM NEWS
Offshore wind turbines may reduce nearby power output

Wind Energy Expansion Planned for China's Rural Areas

New study debunks myths about wind farm land use

China says 'highly concerned' over EU probe into wind turbine suppliers

FARM NEWS
G7 reportedly agrees end date for coal-fired power plants

NGOs accuse ADB of funding Indonesia coal plants despite clean energy promises

Indian forest activist at the coalface of mining battle

EPA finalizes new rules to reduce pollution from coal, gas plants

FARM NEWS
Japan monitoring reports of professor 'missing' in China

Canada FM sending deputy to China to work on tense ties: source

China officials reject criticism of new Hong Kong security law

China using 'collective punishment' against activists' families: rights group

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.