Antalya Metropolitan Municipality is taking important steps to spread the silkworm breeding project it started at Alanya Sapadere Silk House Production Center to the entire Mediterranean Region. The Metropolitan Municipality aims to contribute to the regional economy and rural development by reviving this traditional production activity that has almost been forgotten in Antalya with the “Silk House Project” carried out in cooperation with Kozabirlik.
Intense Interest in Silkworm Breeding in Akseki
Trainings organized for the development of silkworm breeding throughout Antalya continue uninterruptedly. Following Alanya, the first trainings were given in Akseki by Mediterranean Region Cocoon Agriculture Sales Cooperative Sales Manager Mehmet Sönmez and Metropolitan Municipality Sapadere Silk House Manager Ayşenur Özdoğan Gülmez. In this training, which attracted great interest from citizens of Akseki, all stages of silkworm breeding were explained in detail with visuals. The trainees gained comprehensive information about the stages of mulberry tree and silkworm breeding, cocoon production, the climate conditions of the region and important issues to be considered. At the end of the training, certificates were presented to the participants.
Cooperative Manager Sönmez: “Our Goal is to Make Antalya an Important Center for Silk Production”
Drawing attention to the importance of the steps taken for the revival of silkworm breeding in Antalya, Cooperative Sales Manager Mehmet Sönmez expressed his satisfaction with the Metropolitan Municipality’s work in this area. Sönmez said, “Muhittin Böcek We started our first sapling distributions when our president took office in 2019. We distribute our mulberry tree saplings wherever there is demand, no matter where in Antalya. We also go to the places where the saplings are distributed and provide training. 250 mulberry saplings were planted in Akseki. It is a very suitable altitude, untouched and pesticide-free area. It is an ideal place for silkworm breeding. Women who are encouraged to produce have the opportunity to support their family economies. Production has started from our first planted mulberry saplings. This interest makes us very happy. After Alanya and Gazipaşa, we will now expand to our western districts,” he said. Sönmez emphasized that they aim to make Antalya an important center for silk production again with the support of the Metropolitan Municipality.
Metropolitan Municipality Aims to Spread Production to All of Antalya
Providing information about the trainings, Metropolitan Municipality Sapadere Silk House Manager Ayşenur Özdoğan Gülmez said, “We continue our work to popularize silkworm breeding. We brought 250 mulberry saplings to our Akseki district a month ago and planted them. Today, we provided the first training to our citizens who wanted to receive training on silkworm breeding. Our aim is to revive and spread cocooning and silkworm breeding throughout Antalya, which has been abandoned and forgotten in our region over time.” Gülmez stated that they both provide information transfer and aim to increase citizens’ interest in this field with such trainings.
Trainees Hopeful About the Project: “We Want to Add Value to Our Country”
Ahmet Arslan, one of the trainees who received silkworm breeding training in Akseki, expressed his belief and expectations in the project. Arslan said, “After completing my training abroad, I returned to Akseki. I am interested in organic farming. I find this type of training very important. I was very curious about silkworm breeding. It was very educational and instructive.” Many trainees like Arslan want to contribute to their own economic income and add value to their country by reviving a forgotten value through such projects. This initiative of the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality is considered an important step in terms of rural development and strengthening local economies.
