In Madagascar sericulture is a long traditional activity. Malagasy people used wild silk named Borocera Madagascariensis since a long time. Around 1850, Bombyx mori was introduced in Madagascar. Experience shown that sericulture can be undertaken profitably in the country. Mulberry growth in regions of Madagascar is continuous and silkworm rearing can also be done during eight (8) months in the year. This has been possible because the climatic conditions favor sericulture development; temperatures are more or less constant throughout the year (18 – 26°C in the central plateau).
The state of Madagascar has got n 3 sericulture centers .These centers are in charge of silk egg production, they are responsible for selection and germ plasma conservation of parental pure strains, the production of egg (F1) to distribute to farmers,the popularization sericulture and the framing of policies benefiting the famers and technical improvement in mulberry plantation.
But since 2003, after the disengagement of the State involving in the direct activities of production, sericulture centers have been given up to the private sector. The administration department involved only in the following activities:
- To elaborate and to follow the application of texts to the sericulture
- to support the expansion of sericulture area through another zone
- to support the 3 centers that are managed by the private sector.
The marketing of sericulture products like: silk, silkworm eggs, mulberry plants is in the hands of private traders who are basically unorganized.
