The KHDC and Khadi Board market their products through the chain of its sales outlets,and directly to different government institutions. The cooperatives and thesmall manufacturer weavers supply their goods to local retailers andwholesalers. The tiny weavers are selling their products in the local marketdirectly to the consumer or to the local trader.
It has been observed in the value chain analysis that the local traders enjoygreater margin than the others. But proper intervention for cost reduction ininputs through bulk purchase helps to improve pre-processing methods. Upgradingthe designs for value addition of the product, introduction of direct sellingmechanism instead of the trader will help increase in the earning of theweavers and the margins of the entrepreneurs.
The linkages of the core actors with most of the public service providers are very weak. With the exception of the weaver service centre and the Handloom andtextiles Department linkages with other service providers have to bestrengthened.
Since all the support institutions are existing in the cluster there is largescope for intervention in all the major areas such as design development, valueaddition to product, up gradation of technique, product diversification,establishment of CFC, Common marketing facility, Brand Equity etc.
Gadag Handloom Cluster
History of the Gadag Cluster shows the rise and fall of its products. Even the products manufactured have been changed from ordinary cotton saris tomercerized cotton saris and high quality of silk saris. Today more than 50% ofthe production is only of the cotton saris. Though the profit margin is meagerin cotton saris but enjoys better demand compared to silk saris. These "Gaadidhadi" traditional saris are largely worn by women of north Karnataka andsome parts of Maharashtra. These people prefer these saris for almost all theircultural and traditional functions because of its combination of harmoniouscolors, quality and richness.
While interacting with
As per him, "Government supports handloomclusters by proving subsidies like for Gadag cluster Government of Karnatakahas introduced Vidya Vikasa Scheme. Under this scheme government supplyinguniform cloth to Education department and to subsidized saree dhoti as clusterhaving about 1200 looms working. In addition government has introduced WeaversHealth Package Scheme, Housing Scheme and Insurance."
Benefits of Handloom Cluster
Mr.Ramachandrappa N.T adds, "Handloom clusters are helping weavers by providing technical guidance for product diversification as per market trend, sourcing goodquality raw materials and loom accessories. Clusters also provide facilities like dyeing, testing lab and common facility centre and new product development and employment generation. Moreover after implementing the cluster duringthe last 3 years, the quality of the products improved, diversified the varietiesas per market trend by introducing reactive colours, created brand image onnational level and increased the wage earnings of handloom weavers to theextent of 10% - 15% for about 500 weavers."
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