Natural silk farming is a series of silk agro-industry activities from mulberry cultivation, silkworm maintenance, cocoon production and processing, silk spinning and weaving. Many supporting factors for the development of natural silk in Indonesia. However, the natural silk industry is getting worse with high import values. The main problem is the low quality of silkworm egg seeds. The Forest Research and Development Center (P3H) is a government agency authorized for natural silk commodity development. This study aims to describe the efforts of conservation and breeding of natural silkworm in Indonesia. The material used for conservation is the germ plasma silkworms collection owned by P3H. Whereas for breeding activities, silkworms used are produced from conservation activities. Conservation is carried out using eggs of the same type of strain in the germ-plasma, while breeding is done by crossing various types of moths. The result of conservation is the maintenance of 58 germ plasma silkworms. While breeding results are a type of hybrid caterpillar PS 01, which has a production advantage compared to commercial types CS 03. The dissemination of results such as hybrid PS 01, which has a comparative advantage needs to be improved to help overcome the problem of Indonesian silkworms.

The domestic silkworm or mulberry silk moth, B. mori L., provides more than 99% of the world’s silk. Silk, as a sericulture product, was first introduced in Indonesia through a trade mechanism and began to develop in 1953. Several factors (economic, ecological, market, and cultural) support sericulture and make it become one of the non-timber forest product priorities. However, the competitive advantages alone have not encouraged the development of prospective sericulture industry in Indonesia yet. This paper is a review of tropical sericulture development in Indonesia. The literature on the development of sericulture in Indonesia between 1989 and 2022 is used to describe conditions related to mulberry cultivation (moriculture), and silkworm rearing (sericulture), as well as the state of socio-economic development, culture, and institutions. Moriculture and sericulture techniques, socio-economic aspects, institutional arrangements, and community motivations are intertwined, creating a challenging atmosphere for sericulture development. There are potential resources, such as exploring quality mulberry production and quality silkworm production through research and development, valuable cultural aspects, and potential stakeholders to build network engagement. Commitment, cooperation, and action from all stakeholders are needed to enhance the development of sericulture in Indonesia. In this context, the central government can play an important role in facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships in the development of integrated sericulture in Indonesia.

One of the problems faced by silk production in Indonesia is low productivity of mulberry that is currently planted by the farmers. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new hybrid of mulberries that have a higher leaves production. Before the new hybrid of mulberry can be cultivated by farmers, the new hybrid plant should be tested first. Adaptation test is required to view genetic response of the plant with the environment in which mulberry grows. The purpose of this study is conducting adaptation test of mulberry's five types new hybrid to measure the growth and the productivity of plants. Adaptation test research of mulberry's five new hybrids has been conducted from 2012 until 2014 in Cipeuteuy Village, Sub District Kabandungan, District of Sukabumi. This research used randomized block design method with six treatments and three replications. The results showed that two types of hybrid mulberry showed high percentage growth on average 99%. The use of hybrid mulberry Morus cathayana x Morus amakusaguwa IV.12 in natural silk production can increase 59,60 % of productivity, while Morus cathayana x Morus amakusaguwa IV.10 can increase 47,83% of productivity. Two types of hybrid mulberry, Morus cathayana x Morus amakusaguwa IV.12 and Morus cathayana x Morus amakusaguwa IV.10 have excellent potential in silkworm feed productivity development.

The Lake Toba Catchment Area (LTCA) has degraded due to a lack of implementation of conservation principles. Agroforestry is one of the land-use techniques with a conservation approach. Agroforestry development in LTCA should be supported by stakeholders, especially farmers. Farmers’ support will be formed if they have a good perception and interest in developing the agroforestry systems. The study aims to determine farmers’ characteristics, perceptions, and interests in agroforestry development in LTCA. The study was conducted from July until August 2019 at Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra Province. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using a questionnaire with 30 respondents. Measurement of farmers’ perception and interest use a Likert scale. The data were then analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the farmers’ age is dominated by the productive phase (30-50 years old); they are only completed elementary schools, with average landholding was <0.3 ha, and farming experience >10 years. Farmers’ perceptions and interests in agroforestry development in LTCA are in good categories, each with a score of 4.18. These perceptions and interests of farmers are supporting factors that would positively impact the development of sustainable agroforestry in LTCA.

Successful maintenance of silkworms (Bombyx mori) depends on the supply of mulberry leaf feed (Morus sp). In practice, mulberry plants are not safe from pests and diseases. In the early rainy season, mulberry plants are easily attacked by whitefly (Trialeuroides vaporiorum and Bemissia tabaci). Mulberry leaves that are attacked by whitefly can no longer be given to silkworms because the nutrients are reduced. The use of plant-based insecticides in the resolvent of whitefly pests has not been widely practiced. Wood vinegar is an organic material derived from wood waste that can be used as a plant-based insecticide. The objectives of this study are to determine the percentage of whitefly attacks on mulberry plants and the application of plant-based insecticides on mulberry plants towards whitefly attacks reduction. The study was employed by field observation for 12 weeks. The results showed that the percentage of whitefly attack was 33.34%. Application of wood vinegar as insecticide with a dose of 2.5% (v/v) increased the pest resistance and induced the growth of mulberry plants.