Weavers told to gear up for quota-free regime

Agriculture minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao has called upon the weavers in the state to gear up to compete in the global markets from 2005 when all trade barriers in the world textile sector would be removed as per the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations.

Inaugurating a 10-day state-level handloom exhibition-cum-sales expo 'Chenetha Vasantham' here on Sunday, the minister said the government would provide investment and necessary technologies to the weavers to help them compete at the global level.

"The government is aware that a majority of our weavers are marginal entrepreneurs, and that their co-operative societies also lack the required funds. All over the world the sales of handloom and khadi clothes were increasing, while the demand for synthetic fabrics is coming down. Our weavers should capitalise on this international trend and produce cloth and clothes, satisfying the needs and likes of different sections of consumers. The weavers should consider purchasing capacity of different consumers and offer them the best possible quality products," he said on the occasion.

Forty one weavers' cooperative societies from the 14 districts of Srikakulam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor, Cuddapah, Anantapur, Mahboobnagar, Nalgonda, Karimnagar and Warangal are participating in the exhibition.

Handloom special products put on on display include Gadwal, Madhavaram and Pochampalli silk saris, Pochampalli blankets, Vetapalem, Mangalagiri cotton and dress materials, Pondur, Bhattiprole, Mangalagiri dhotis, towels, lungis, and shirtings, Kothapet silver jari saris, L.B. Nagar lavish carpets, khadi shirtings and dhotis, cotton butta saris and raw silk saris.

A lot of quality improvement is clearly discernible in these products. With the government's financial assistance and training programmes, the weavers now turn out seko, tusser, semi polyester, jacaard, richpalli, China silk saris in modern designs, competing with the textile mills.

Handloom clothes are now exported to Europe and US through the partnership committee set up by the state government with foreign trade bodies.

The exhibition-cum-sales shows, organised jointly by the state and the central governments every year, earned Rs 69 lakh in 2003 and Rs 61 lakh in the previous year.

Addressing the meeting, Krishna District handloom and textiles assistant coordinator A Muralikrishna said that both consumers and weavers would benefit from such shows.

Consumers can buy handloom products at 30 per cent less than market prices, and weavers are assured of year-long earnings. Indian Airlines has placed an order for Pochampalli silk saris worth Rs 2 crore.

The government will be sanctioning credit cards to 600 weavers. The beneficiaries will get Rs 25,000 loan each at 9 per cent interest repayable in three years, the weavers were informed.