Unravelling Rwanda's silk dream: a fine line between flourishing and faltering

Abstract

In 2003, silk production was earmarked as a huge potential contributor to Rwanda's economy. A recent HSRC study determined that the industry has alleviated poverty to some extent. Yet, by 2013, the diffusion of sericulture, the process of silk production, had begun to falter. The HSRC's Dr Alexis Habiyaremye explores some of the unforeseen challenges of introducing a new type of industry to a country that is entrenched in its traditional culture and how these might be overcome.