Organic farming

• Why Organic

Conventional farming of mulberry and cotton uses more chemicals per hectare than any other crop. Tons of chemicals waste off the fields into the water table we all share. Pesticides, fertilizers and chemicals used to grow and process conventional silk and cotton fabrics may go directly to the users blood stream, which consequently affect's the body's organs and tissues. As many as 25 millions of people worldwide are poisoned by pesticides every year. This is the hard fact of conventional textiles.

The concern for a life devoid of the use of harmful toxic chemicals, the need for an eco-friendly industrial and agricultural culture and an increasing awareness of depleting natural resources and the consequences therein-these are factors which are shaping the life styles of people world wide. It is in this context that the relevance of organic silk and cotton becomes important.

The naturally soft organic silk and cotton fabric is much more comfortable to use and is available at competitive prices. So, here's to a safer, better world for our children and us. Let us make the earth safer for farm workers and preserve the soil for long-term fertility.

• Our Farms

- What we think about it

Living soil is the basis of the organic farm, free of toxic chemicals for at least three years and enriched by compost and other organic matter. The concept is simple, vigorous plants resist insects, weeds and diseases better than those under stress due to repeated chemical applications. By working with nature to create a diverse farm ecosystem, we produce optimal growing conditions.

- What we do for it

To support our production with reliable organic silk yarns, the company has developed 3 biodynamic sericulture farms since 1998, with a total investment of over 8 millions RMB.

SABA, founded in 1998, is located in Jiangyou city, Sichuan province. This project covers an area of 70 hectares, in which 20ha for mulberry plantation and 50ha for ecological forest. Being surrounded by river from three sides and backed by the mountains, this farm is thoroughly isolated from neighboring conventional farming. Local villagers are employed for growing mulberries, breeding silkworms and harvesting cocoons. They are paid as piece workers.

Zitong project, founded in 2001, is located in Zitong County, Sichuan province. This project covers an area of 130 hectares, in which 50ha for mulberries and 80ha for ecological forest. This site is on a shallow hilly terrace surrounded by river, valley or broad natural forest, which definitely keep our farm free from industrial or any other pollution. A number of sericulture professionals from nearby are contracted for farming, breeding and harvesting. All of their operations are under close supervision and instruction from the company. They earn incomes by selling ecologically qualified cocoons to the company.

Shitou project, located in Yimeng mountain regions of Shandong Province, was just started 2002. With a plantation area of 500 hectares, this project is capable to provide 30 tons of organic silk yarns to the company every year. Local sericulture farmers, sponsored by Sichuan Alkena, had united themselves into a biodynamic sericulture association. And their operation is under close control of IMO as well as Sichuan Alkena. Farmers earn their incomes by selling ecologically qualified cocoons to their sponsor.

• Events

-1998

Dr. J. Obermaier, Prof. L. Zhengfang and other agronomists gathered in Jiangyou City to assess the feasibility of biodynamic sericulture project.

SABA was founded in the north of Sichuan as the first biodynamic mulberry silk project over the world. Construction of operation roads, irrigation pump station, and 20 hectares of mulberry field was launched and completed.

-1999

Ecology philosophy and technology of compost, preparation were introduced to SABA. Thereafter all activities in SABA and its sister projects have been performed in conformity with EEC No 2092/91.

-2001

ZITONG Mulberry Silk Project was started in the north of Sichuan with a size of 50 hectares of mulberry field. And in the first 2 years, ZITONG was subcontracted to by CHENGYANG H-Tech Co. Ltd.

-2003

SHITOU Mulberry and Sericulture Association was established in middle of Shandong, with a capacity of over 30 tons of silk filament.

SABA got its first organic certificate for its yields of mulberry and silk cocoons.

- 2004

Alkena successively took over ZITONG Project to its own management and control.

ZITONG got its first organic certificate for its yields of mulberry and silk cocoons.

- 2006

Alkena took a big step in cooperation with SGITOU Mulberry and Sericulture Association. Hereafter, Alkena put all of the organic silk resources over the world into his possession.






	• Why Organic Conventional farming of mulberry and cotton uses more chemicals per hectare than any other crop. Tons of chemicals waste off the fields into the water table we all share. Pesticides, fertilizers and chemicals used to grow and process conventional silk and cotton fabrics may go directly to the users blood stream, which consequently affect's the body's organs and tissues. As many as 25 millions of people worldwide are poisoned by pesticides every year. This is the hard fact of conventional textiles. The concern for a life devoid of the use of harmful toxic chemicals, the need for an eco-friendly industrial and agricultural culture and an increasing awareness of depleting natural resources and the consequences therein-these are factors which are shaping the life styles of people world wide. It is in this context that the relevance of organic silk and cotton becomes important. The naturally soft organic silk and cotton fabric is much more comfortable to use and is available at competitive prices. So, here's to a safer, better world for our children and us. Let us make the earth safer for farm workers and preserve the soil for long-term fertility. • Our Farms - What we think about it Living soil is the basis of the organic farm, free of toxic chemicals for at least three years and enriched by compost and other organic matter. The concept is simple, vigorous plants resist insects, weeds and diseases better than those under stress due to repeated chemical applications. By working with nature to create a diverse farm ecosystem, we produce optimal growing conditions. - What we do for it To support our production with reliable organic silk yarns, the company has developed 3 biodynamic sericulture farms since 1998, with a total investment of over 8 millions RMB. SABA, founded in 1998, is located in Jiangyou city, Sichuan province. This project covers an area of 70 hectares, in which 20ha for mulberry plantation and 50ha for ecological forest. Being surrounded by river from three sides and backed by the mountains, this farm is thoroughly isolated from neighboring conventional farming. Local villagers are employed for growing mulberries, breeding silkworms and harvesting cocoons. They are paid as piece workers. Zitong project, founded in 2001, is located in Zitong County, Sichuan province. This project covers an area of 130 hectares, in which 50ha for mulberries and 80ha for ecological forest. This site is on a shallow hilly terrace surrounded by river, valley or broad natural forest, which definitely keep our farm free from industrial or any other pollution. A number of sericulture professionals from nearby are contracted for farming, breeding and harvesting. All of their operations are under close supervision and instruction from the company. They earn incomes by selling ecologically qualified cocoons to the company. Shitou project, located in Yimeng mountain regions of Shandong Province, was just started 2002. With a plantation area of 500 hectares, this project is capable to provide 30 tons of organic silk yarns to the company every year. Local sericulture farmers, sponsored by Sichuan Alkena, had united themselves into a biodynamic sericulture association. And their operation is under close control of IMO as well as Sichuan Alkena. Farmers earn their incomes by selling ecologically qualified cocoons to their sponsor. • Events -1998 Dr. J. Obermaier, Prof. L. Zhengfang and other agronomists gathered in Jiangyou City to assess the feasibility of biodynamic sericulture project. SABA was founded in the north of Sichuan as the first biodynamic mulberry silk project over the world. Construction of operation roads, irrigation pump station, and 20 hectares of mulberry field was launched and completed. -1999 Ecology philosophy and technology of compost, preparation were introduced to SABA. Thereafter all activities in SABA and its sister projects have been performed in conformity with EEC No 2092/91. -2001 ZITONG Mulberry Silk Project was started in the north of Sichuan with a size of 50 hectares of mulberry field. And in the first 2 years, ZITONG was subcontracted to by CHENGYANG H-Tech Co. Ltd. -2003 SHITOU Mulberry and Sericulture Association was established in middle of Shandong, with a capacity of over 30 tons of silk filament. SABA got its first organic certificate for its yields of mulberry and silk cocoons. - 2004 Alkena successively took over ZITONG Project to its own management and control. ZITONG got its first organic certificate for its yields of mulberry and silk cocoons. - 2006 Alkena took a big step in cooperation with SGITOU Mulberry and Sericulture Association. Hereafter, Alkena put all of the organic silk resources over the world into his possession.

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