Uganda is set to start exporting the silk worm to Iran. Mohammad Ali Mousavi, the chairman of Iran-Uganda Establishments, said the production of silk from the 1,000-hectare farm in Kisozi, Gomba district is set to start next month.

Mousavi said over 500,000 mulberry trees had been planted over a period of 10 years. The silkworms feed on the leaves of the mulberry tree to produce silk.

“Now is the time to reap. The investment is worth $9m (about sh27b),” he said. “Once we start, we shall be producing at least 1,500 tonnes for exportation to Iran.”  

Mousavi said about 5,000 jobs will be created once production kicks off. “We have 14,000 hectares, but we are currently utilizing only 1,000. We hope to increase production this year,” he said.

The multibillion investment is an initiative of the Iran Agro Industrial Group. Mousavi said if production hits full capacity, Uganda will be among the top producers of silk in the world. China is the number one silk producer, followed by India, Thailand, South Korea and Iran.

 “We shall focus on setting up modern factories to process the silkworm,” he said.

Mousavi said Uganda will be exporting silk worth $200,000 (about sh560m) every year once production commences, adding that the country’s climate was conducive for silk production.

“Whereas we can produce silk only once a year in Iran, in Uganda, we can produce it seven times,” Mousavi said. Mousavi started investing in silk production in Uganda in 1992.

“We have the capacity of producing 30 bags of egg worms from just one hectare of land,” he explained. Silk, a natural protein fiber, can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae that feed on leaves of the mulberry tree.

The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular prismlike structure of the silk fiber, which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles, thus producing different colors.

“Textile manufacturing will be possible with this silk produced from the moth of caterpillars,” Mousavi said.

“Silk’s absorbency makes it comfortable to wear in warm weather. Its low conductivity keeps warm air close to the skin during cold weather.”

A silk tie in Europe goes for $600 (about sh1.7m). “Once the investment grows and we get government support, we can start producing upholstery, wall coverings and carpets,” Mousavi said.

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