The country plans to develop more silkworm breeding bases in its central and western regions, aiming to help raise the incomes of inland farmers and expand the country's silk cocoon exports, according to a senior Chinese official of commerce.

Under a program launched recently by the Ministry of Commerce, China will build 200 high-tech, market-oriented silkworm breeding bases each covering about 670 hectares, said Huang Hai, assistant minister of commerce.

Huang, who is also director of the National Cocoon and Silk Coordination Office, said nine export-oriented silkworm breeding zones will take shape in the West, Southwest, Central and Northeast China over the next five years.

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