Utexrwa, a local textiles company yesterday awarded certificates to six Rwandans after they successfully completed a one-month course in sericulture training.

Sericulture is the art of raising silk worms to produce silk threads.

The ceremony that was held at the company’s conference hall was presided over by the Mayor of Kigali City, Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira.

The completion of this training comes two months after Kigali City Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the textiles company to put in place poverty alleviation mechanisms through silk production.

According to Utexrwa’s Managing Director, Raj Rajendran, the six who completed the course will be able to train other Rwandans in silk production. Those who graduated are representatives from the three Kigali City districts of Gasabo, Nyarugenge and Kicukiro.

"This is the first formal presentation of training certificates between Utexrwa and Kigali City and we are glad that this cause will significantly contribute to creation of employment hence generating revenue for the country. In turn poverty levels will also decrease.”

The Mayor commended Utexrwa for this initiative, adding that it has come at a good time when most economies are being affected by the global financial crisis.

"We are happy that this project will empower citizens with employment. About 70 percent of our agricultural land is underutilised so if we can look at these worms as a money machine then it is great for our economy at such a time,” Kirabo added.

She also thanked the students who managed to excel and advised them to draw implementation plans that should be forwarded to district authorities for follow up.

"Silk production, mushroom growing and Agaseke are among the three development projects taken up by the district and we will fund their production. So far silk attires have a market in Rwanda so I am sure that in the next five months, Kirabo (herself) should be wearing silk products out of your efforts,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Joyce Musefano also thanked the partners for this training but stressed that it is a delicate production area that needs constant follow up and all the necessities.

The training consisted of silk worm rearing, mulberry cultivation, sericulture and cocoon production which are all components of silk production.

According to Rajendran, the next batch will be enrolled in June this year and about 2000 people will be trained in one year so that the programme rolls out faster.

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