In Poland, the number of agritourism farms is increasing. The interest in agritourism has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the possibility of traveling while maintaining social distance, thus minimizing the risk of infection. Agritourism farms expand their offer to provide tourists not only with accommodation and food, but also by offering various leisure activities. One of such activities is animal husbandry and the creation of educational farms. The aim of this study is to present the possibility of rearing silkworms and cultivating mulberries on an agritourism farm as tools that increase the attractiveness of the farm's offer. A literature review was carried out in the field of both agritourism farms and sericulture, and a SWOT analysis was carried out, which allowed for obtaining information about the opportunities and threats for the success of the silk-related undertaking. The conducted research shows that sericulture may be an opportunity to increase the attractiveness of an agritourism farm due to the niche nature of this activity and the multidirectional possibilities of managing silk raw materials. Moreover, extending the offer of an agritourism farm with silk production is an opportunity for an interesting and unique educational offer addressed to organized groups. The greatest difficulty today is the lack of white mulberry plantings for silkworm rearing and the waiting period for several years for the possibility of using mulberry from the moment of planting.
PL
W Polsce wzrasta liczba gospodarstw agroturystycznych. Zainteresowanie agroturystyką wzrosło w trakcie pandemii COVID-19 ze względu na możliwość podróżowania z równoczesnym zachowaniem dystansu społecznego, minimalizując tym samym ryzyko zakażenia. Gospodarstwa agroturystyczne poszerzają swoją ofertę, aby zapewnić turystom nie tylko bazę noclegową i wyżywienie, ale także oferując różnorodne aktywności spędzania wolnego czasu. Jednym z takich działań jest chów zwierząt oraz tworzenie zagród edukacyjnych. Celem niniejszej pracy jest przedstawienie możliwości chowu jedwabników i uprawy morwy w gospodarstwie agroturystycznym jako narzędzi wpływających na podniesienie atrakcyjności oferty gospodarstwa. W tym celu dokonano przeglądu literatury z zakresu zarówno działalności gospodarstw agroturystycznych, jak i jedwabnictwa oraz przeprowadzono analizę SWOT, która pozwoliła uzyskać informacje o szansach i zagrożeniach na powodzenie przedsięwzięcia związanego z jedwabnictwem. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że jedwabnictwo może być szansą na zwiększenie atrakcyjności gospodarstwa agroturystycznego z uwagi na niszowy charakter tej działalności oraz wielokierunkowe możliwości zagospodarowania surowców jedwabniczych. Ponadto, poszerzenie oferty gospodarstwa agroturystycznego o jedwabnictwo, stanowi szansę na interesującą i unikatową ofertę edukacyjną adresowaną do grup zorganizowanych. Największą trudnością jest współcześnie brak nasadzeń morwy białej na potrzeby prowadzenia chowu jedwabników oraz kilkuletni okres oczekiwania na możliwość użytkowania morwy od momentu nasadzenia.
Sericulture dates back to ancient China. Today it is defined as a branch of agriculture dealing with the cultivation of mulberry for the purpose of silkworm farming and the production of silk. Due to the fact that the mulberry silkworm larvae eat white mulberry leaves, it is a plant inextricably linked with silkworm farming and, consequently the production of silk. Although white mulberry is mainly associated with the cultivation of mulberry silkworms, thanks to its numerous and unique properties, it is a plant that can be used in various branches of the economy, as well as a research object of interest to scientists representing various fields of science. Thanks to the content of many bioactive substances, micro- and macroelements and vitamins, it has been used in herbal medicine, pharmacology and medicine. The richness of bioactive compounds makes it also an attractive raw material for the food and cosmetic industry. At the same time, due to its high energy value, mulberry belongs to the group of energy crops. Both the unique properties of mulberry and the traditions associated with its cultivation have made it a plant appreciated not only by science, but also left its mark in culture, as it has accompanied people for centuries. It is not surprising, therefore, that mulberry was recorded in poems, folk proverbs and on painting canvases, including the most famous brush by Vincent van Gogh – “Mulberry Tree in Autumn”. On the other hand, the processing of mulberry silkworm cocoons into high-quality yarns, and ultimately into delicate but durable fabrics, had a significant impact on the development of art. Both in terms of the so-called applied arts, but also those referred to as beaux-arts. And although the definitions of art have changed throughout history – regardless of period or era – silk was invariably appreciated by artists and craftsmen. Thanks to its properties, quality and aesthetics, silk fiber offers a wide range of possibilities for use in papermaking, which is also important in the cultural context.
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