The cultivation of natural silk and silk fiber industry is a traditional industry that has been developed since 1950s by South Sulawesi community. Even has become a craft down findings and become a search eye by most South Sulawesi residents because the cultivation of silkworms is relatively easy and can be done by a whole family member.
One area that develops silk yarn, Donri-donri District, Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi. The area has been listed as the largest producing area of silk yarn in Indonesia in the 1960s and reached its peak in 1980s to 1990s by production reached 140 tons of silk yarns per year by about 400 groups of farmers. This makes Soppeng once visited President Soeharto twice in 1972 to inaugurate the Natural Persutera Station that is now the Ta'juncu Nature Silk Center managed by Perum Perhutani.
But in mid 1995 is the beginning of the production of Soppeng silk, various factors that affect, the climate that does not enlighten the success of the prosperity of the prosperity of the prosperity of the prosperity of the prosperity of Rp7.000 perkilogram makes the farmers reconstruct the land of their murbei plant which is the main food of the caterpillar then replaced with the cacao plant.
Bombyx mori or silkworm ready to form a concon will lose appetite while constantly lifting his head looking for a shade.
Ibu Manji chooses a silkworm that has been ready to form a concon or apompong in Ta'juncu, Donri-donri, Soppeng, South Sulawesi.
By using simple and still traditional equipment as well as not many additional knowledge, now it remains no more 10 groups of farmers in the construction of Perhutani Perum with production of approximately 100 kilograms of yarn per month.
To produce silk yarn takes 28 days from the process of ditera catering egg to thread spinning. Most craftsmen supply egg seedlings from Ta'juncu Nature Silk Center. After the next hatch egg will be betted in the pulverizer and fed the murbei leaves. When the caterpillar becomes apompong (cocon) about seven days, the cocoa is further boiled up to 3-4 minutes later on the spinning when the cocoa is still warm. Need special skills and expertise in the process of spinning the silk yarn.
The result of silk yarn will be supplied outside the area, namely Sengkang, Wajo Regency, West Sulawesi Polman, to further be woven fabric and mostly used as clothing and Lipa Sabbe (Sitera).
Ibu Manji is assisted by the grandchild of moving a silkworm that has been ready to form a concon or apompong to a simple composed bamboo container.
One kokon fruit or whole round silkpompong can produce 300 to 900 meters long fiber strands.
The cultivation of natural silk and the spinning of the silk yarn became one of the tourist objects in Soppeng. Even not a few foreign tourists come to the special Soppeng to see the process of capturing the silkworm to the thread spinning. One becomes a attraction is a traditional tool used is made of wood and bamboo.
Silk yarn craftsmen hope the attention of the government to increase the production of silk yarns which are the raw materials of the silk fabric. Due to the limitation of technology, the unfinished regulation of his marketing, the minim of the murbei plant land which is the feed of the silkworm and the decrease in the interest of the young generation to seal the industry into the sustainability constraints of the Soppeng silk yarn today.
Photo and Text: Goddess Fajriani
It is simple to ask for the yarn belonging to the Hasnaini mother who is in his house, in Pising Village, Donri-donri, Soppeng, South Sulawesi.
The fiber thread is easy to dipintal, the plug is boiled in advance a while.
Ibu Hasnaini conducts the Reeling process (mins) concons using simple pintal tools at home, in Pising Village, Donri-donri, Soppeng, South Sulawesi.
The Reeling Process (mint) concons with this simple tool must use hot water so that the yarn can be pined.
The Reeling Process (mint) concons with this simple tool must use hot water so that the yarn can be pined.
Ibu Hasnaini conducts the Reeling process (mins) concons using simple pintal tools at home, in Pising Village, Donri-donri, Soppeng, South Sulawesi.
Hasil yarns are cut and sorted for Rp600 thousand per kilogram.
Ibu Hasnaini sorts a silk yarn that has just been pinted to be easily packed before being distributed.
