A sericulture family farm in Rugao, Nantong, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

In recent years, Rugao in Nantong, Jiangsu has revolutionized its sericulture industry, transitioning from traditional manual feeding to automated production lines. This transformation has enhanced production efficiency and ensured the quality of silkworm cocoons, thus laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the sericulture industry.

This year, its sericulture sector is expected to produce around 30,000 sheets, yielding 1,395 metric tons of silkworm cocoons with a first-quarter output value of about 100 million yuan ($13.81 million).

Haochen Family Farm in Jiuhua town, Rugao's first sizable sericulture family farm, features three connected steel greenhouses spanning 1,200 square meters. In spring 2024, the farm will raise 60 sheets of silkworms in two batches, with an estimated cocoon value exceeding 100,000 yuan.

In August 2022, the Rugao Sericulture Technology Guidance Station partnered with Soochow University to integrate production, education, and research, bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical application and promoting the commercialization of scientific achievements.

"Rugao has a long history of mulberry cultivation and sericulture. It is a key production base for high-quality cocoons in China. Since 2016, it has been an education base for agricultural master's students at Soochow University," said Li Bing, director of the Sericulture Research Institute at Soochow University.