Apco set to clock Rs 100 cr turnover

The corporation had already reached the Rs 70-crore mark by January 27, both in yarn and fabric sales, as against the targeted sales of Rs 72 crore for the entire year, informed Padala Bhumanna, the minister for handlooms and textiles.

Attributing the sudden boom in the handloom sales primarily to the growing trust in the quality of handloom products among the public, the minister said that his department has been striving hard to improve the quality of handloom products.

"In the past, the handloom co-operatives used to receive their bills once in two years, thus keeping the handloom weavers in constant hunger. Now it is the other way round. At present, Apco pays cash to the handloom co-operatives the moment its receives the products from them. The prompt payments has given the much-needed push to the co-operatives at quality improvement" Bhumanna said.

Apco, the apex body of 500-odd handloom cooperative societies which are functioning in the state, markets the products through its 200 outlets across the state.

The corporation has also launched mobile sales outlets, apart from conducting exhibitions to promote the products. So far, Apco has so far registered Rs 9 crore turnover on sales through special exhibitions in the current financial year.

"The special exhibitions and mobile sales have also contributed to the present growth in handloom sales. Around Rs 10.10 crore sales were registered in January (upto 27th) alone, which is the highest monthly turnover ever achieved by Apco. Determined to sustain the current trend in the coming days, the department has set a minimum of Rs 10 crore sales target for each month of the current fourth quarter," Bhumanna said.

Impressed by the present turnaround of Apco, the Government of India had responded positively, and released the balance Rs 10 crore restructuring grant to the organisation a couple of days ago, the minister informed.

"Banks revived the cash credit limit to Apco up to Rs 50 crore in last December. Now we are negotiating with Andhra Pradesh Cooperative Bank (Apcob) to revive the cash credit limit for the handloom co-operatives too," the minister said.

"The state government has earmarked about Rs 4 crore for construction of exclusive handloom bazaars besides setting up of 95 apparel parks and 12 textile parks which are under various stages of implementation. The government has also chalked out an action plan for export promotion of handloom products, for which negotiations are on with around 14 parties," Bhumanna said.