Raw yarn crisis has put the Kosa centre in the Naxal heartland of Bastar on the verge of closure.
With middlemen and big traders purchasing raw kosa silk yarn directly from the farmers at higher prices, the government-run Kosa centre in the divisional headquarters of Bastar has plunged into severe crisis.
The centre was set up a year ago with an investment of Rs 1 crore. The weavers were using the yarn extensively in fashioning sarees, salwar suits, menswear, including shirts, sherwanis, jackets, vests and shawls.
Kosa silk that is drawn from cocoons grown specially on Arjun, Saja or Sal trees is produced in a few pockets of Bastar region major part of which is infested with the Naxal activities. Yarn worth Rs 5-6 crore was produced annually in the region. The state government had authorised the centre to purchase kosa yarn from the farmers. Instead of selling the kosa silk to the centre, farmers for prefer to sell the same to private parties as they get much higher prices than fixed by the government.
Sources said the centre this year opened procurement centres in two interior villages in the Kosa producing pockets. But the poor arrival disappointed the authorities.