Lao Sericulture
The Lao Sericulture Company (LSC) was established in 1993. Its origin lie in the history of the Phontong Handicraft Cooperative (PHC) in Vientiane and its director Mrs Kommaly Chanthavong.
LSC is a not for profit company that seeks to create income generating opportunities for Lao people in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. They achieve this goal by encouraging the traditional community arts of silkworm rearing, reeling, weaving, and natural dyeing. The company provides training, tools and a market for village people who wish to work towards a brighter future.
Lao Sericulture Company works to strengthen communities by developing and refining the rich cultural resources that Lao villagers already possess. The production of traditional silk is a labour intensive project which can involve many people in many different aspects of the community. From the growing of mulberry trees to the creation of natural dyes, hand-crafted silk production utilises local labour, local knowledge, and local resources. This, in turn, encourages village self-sufficiency and productivity.
An important part of LSC work is to ensure that resources remain for the future generations in Laos. The company is active in promoting environmental awareness in the villages where they work. They encourage sustainable alternatives to opium production and harmful slash and burn agriculture by stressing the economic rewards of growing mulberry trees with organic fertilizers. They also show the villagers how wastage in the silk production process can be eliminated by creating dependency cycles between various community activities, such as livestock rearing and fisheries. Lao Sericulture also stresses the importance of the beautiful traditional natural dyes, which are more environmentally friendly.
Achievements
More than 816 people from 13 provinces were trained in sericulture techniques, designed to increase local income levels. The Lao Sericulture program offers a viable economic alternative to opium growing through silk cultivation and production. Ten villages traditionally producing opium have switched to sericulture as a major source of local income. The planting of more than one and a half million mulberry trees in the last four years has supported the expansion of village sericulture and contributed to the reforestation of areas left barren by slash and burn agriculture. Provide fair wages to the producers. Build a close relationship with the villagers and provide unique opportunities to become part of their lives.