Date:15/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/15/stories/2005111513500100.htm

Front Page

Encouraging powerloom units to go in for value-addition

M. Soundariya Preetha

COIMBATORE: Efforts taken by the industry and related institutions here have helped the small powerloom units in the district to make products of higher value - from grey cloth to table and kitchen mats (home textiles) and made-ups.

Over a lakh traditional powerlooms that function in the district make grey cloth that is processed elsewhere and then stitched. However, many units are now setting up shuttleless looms.

At the same time, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Textile Management conducts programmes in the powerloom clusters on home textiles. One such programme was held in association with the Jansons School of Business at Karumathampatti on Sunday. An exhibition of home textile items was also organised.

Annual exports

The annual exports of home textiles in the country came to about Rs. 8,000 crores, including Rs. 2,000 crores from Karur. This is expected to go up to Rs. 15,000 crores at the national-level in another five years. "We need about 300 more players in this segment, each with a turnover of about Rs. 10 crores," says A.R. Padmanabhan, adjunct Professor of the institute.

Further, those already exporting these items have to focus on product development and hence, the programmes deal with quality and marketing. The institute plans to organise more awareness camps on home textiles in Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore, Karur, Panipat and Kannur in association with the Textiles Committee. It also proposes to include sessions on project planning and costing in home textiles to help new entrants in this segment. Though home textiles has bright prospects in the international market, it is a capital-intensive industry, points out M. Senthil Kumar, Chariman and Managing Director of the Palladam Hi-Tech Weaving Park. To meet the customer demand on quality, price and delivery schedules, units have to go in for latest technologies. A minimum investment of Rs. 150 crores is needed for a home textile unit with weaving, processing and stitching facilities.