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Kerala Handicrafts
Kerala Handicrafts
The Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala is
the nodal agency for promotion and development of handicrafts
industry in the state. Procurement and distribution of raw materials
and marketing of finished products are the main activities of the
Corporation. During 1988-89, the Corporation has procured raw
materials such as sandalwood, rosewood etc., valued at Rs.4.09 lakh
and distributed the above items worth Rs.3.28 lakh to handicrafts
artisans. The total sale proceeds of the Corporation has increased
from Rs.244.92 lakh in 1987-88 to Rs.282.21 lakh in 1988-89,
registering an increase of about 15 per cent over the previous year.
The performance in the export of handicrafts was also encouraging as
the value of exports rose by 21 per cent from Rs.16.37 lakh in
1987-88 to Rs.19.83 lakh in 1988-89. The good performance is turn
over combined with effective and optimum utilisation of available
resources enabled the Corporation to earn a nominal profit of
Rs.1.37 lakh during 1988-89, after adjusting depreciation and
financial charges. The Corporation has the credit of making profit
during the last three years consecutively.
The paid up capital of the Corporation was Rs.152.24 lakh at the end
of March, 1989 as against Rs.148.24 lakh at the end of March 1988.
The cetral and state governments are the share holders of the
Corporation. The activities of the Corporation enabled 2651 artisans
to get gainful employment. Besides 2750 artisans were assisted by
way purchasing items produced by them. Thus the overall performance
of the Corporation during 1988-89 was satisfactory.
BAMBOO INDUSTRY
The Kerala State Bamboo Corporation Limited is the sole agency
engaged in the promotion and development of bamboo Industry in the
state. The procurement and distribution of bamboo reeds to
traditional workers and collection and sale of mats produced by them
are the main functions of the Corporation. The manufacturing and
marketing of resin bounded bamboo boards is another activity
recently started.
The total turnover of the Corporation during 1988-89 was Rs.370 lakh,
registering as increase of 16 per cent over Rs.318 lakh during the
previous year. It was also able to provide employment to 15,000
weaver families 2500 reed cutters and 1000 other workers, mostly
belonging to the weaker sections.
KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES
During the year 1988-89 the Khadi and Village Industries Board has
registered 25 Co-Operative societies raising the total number of
co-operatives under its control to 1997. At the end of March 1989
there were 364 direct production and sales centres under the Board.
During the year under report the Board could provide employment to
1.79 lakh persons through its various production centres, registered
institutions and co-operative societies as against 1.74 lakhs in the
previous year. An amount of Rs.19.50 crore was paid as wages to the
workers during the year compared to Rs.21.32 crore in 1987-88.
During 1988-89 the administrative expenditure of the Board was
Rs.313.75 lakh. An amount of Rs.42.44 lakh was paid as special
rebate under Khadi programme during the year. The value of
production of Khadi cloth increased from Rs.246.50 lakh in 1987-88
to Rs.360.31 lakh in 1988-89. The sales value also recorded an
increase of 27.5 per cent during the year to Rs.510.98 lakh compared
to previous year's Rs.400.85 lakh. The value of production of
village industries increased from Rs.46.03 crore in 1987-88 to
Rs.51.66 crore in 1988-89. The sales turn over during the period was
Rs.53.86 crore as agianst Rs.48.51 crore in 1987-88.
COIR INDUSTRY
In terms of the numbers of persons employed, coir industry is the
largest traditional industry in Kerala. It provides employment to
about 4.3 lakhs people, majority of whom belong to weaker sections
of the society. 75 per cent of coir workers are women.
The co-operativisation programme is being implemented in the state
as an important measure for revitalising coir industry. There were
829 Coir cooperative Societies in Kerala, as on 31-3-1989 as against
825 societies at the end of 1987-88, consisting of 769 Primary Coir
Co-Opera tive Societies, 50 Manufacturing Societies, 7 Small scale
Producer's Co-Operative Societies, 3 Husk Procurement and
Distribution Societies and one Fibre Society. Of the 4 newly formed
societies 3 were manufacturing societies which have not started
working. Two primary coir co-operative societies and one
manufacturing society which were working during 1987-88, became
dormant in 1988-89. The Apex Organisation viz. The Kerala State
Co-operative Coir Marketing Federation (COIREED) is undertaking the
marketing of coir and coir products manufactured in the co-operative
sector. While the number of dormant societies increased, the number
of societies under liquidation remained unaltered. This points to
the need for expenditing the process of liquidation of the
societies, action for which is long pending. At the same time viable
societies should be strengthened without delay.
During the year 1988-89 the primary coir co-operatives purchased
1341 lakh husks valued at Rs.273 lakh. There was only a marginal
increase in the quantity of husk purchased during the year compared
to 1338 lakh husks valued at Rs.247.00 lakh purchased during the
previous year. During the year 77,000 workers in the primary
societies and 1998 workers in the manufacturing societies were
benefited. While the number of workers in primary societies
increased by 4000 compared to the previous year, the number of
workers in manufacturing societies decreased marginally by 165 over
the previous year. Production of coir and coir products in the
co-operative sector was 12023 tonnes valued at Rs.1293.00 lakh.
There was only 0.4 per cent increase in the quantity of production
compared to the previous year's producation of 11972 tonnes, while
in value terms there was an increase of 8.3 per cent over the
previous year's value of production of 1193.77 lakhs, thanks to
price increase.
The quantity of coir and coir products exported from India declined
by 167.9 tonnes during 1988-89 to 24979.2 tonnes over the previous
year's export of 25147.1 tonnes. The fall in the quantity exported
was mainly in respect of coir yarn and mattings. The export earnings
realised, however, recorded an increase of 3.5 per cent at
Rs.3332.13 lakh, over the previous year's export value of Rs.3219.74
lakh.
In order to increase the sale of coir and coir products,' government
continued to give 20 per cent rebate for 90 days during 1988-89
also. The in-troducation of rebate has enabled the co-operative
sector to expand its markets, popularise coir and coir products
among the middle and lower strata of society and liquidate its huge
accumulated stock.
The availability of husk at reasonable price to the co-operative
sector has increased with the implementation of three point levy
system since May 1988. But still the full requirement could not be
met through procurement under the levy system.
Non-availability of adequate quantity of husk at reasonable price,
inadequacy of working capital with the coir co-operative societies,
decline in export market, accumulation of unsold stock due to
periodical slump in the market etc. continued to be the major
problems facing the industry.
HANDLOOM INDUSTRY
Producation of handloom cloth in the state during 1988-89 is
estimated to be 104.86 million metres, valued at Rs.69.82 crore. 57
per cent of the production was contributed by the cooperative
sector, while the corporate sector and private sector produced 3 per
cent and 40 per cent respectively. The effective coverage of looms
by the co-operative sector increased from 39,200 in 1987-88 to
41,400 during 1988-89. There were 590 handloom weavers' co-operative
societies in the state at the end of 1988-89. During the year, 165
Chitharanjan looms have been distributed to various societies.
Production of handloom cloth in the co-operative sector during
1988-89 was 59.91 million metres valued at Rs.41.90 crore, recording
an increase of 12.5 per cent in quantity and 29 per cent in value,
compared to 53.25 million metres valued at Rs.32.50 crore in the
previous year. The sale of handloom cloth in the co-operative sector
during the year was about 12.5 per cent higher both in quantity and
value at 58.55 million metres valued at Rs.37.10 crore, compared to
52.05 million metres valued at Rs.33.00 crore in the previous year.
The number of looms in the corporate sector increased by 614 during
1988-89, to 6984 as on 31-3-1989 from 6370 at the end of 1987-88.
Production of Handloom cloth in the corporate sector during 1988-89
was 2.95 million metres valued at Rs.2.42 crore, which showed an
increase of 15.7 per cent in quantity and 4.8 per cent in value over
the production of 2.5' million metres of cloth valued at Rs.2.31
crore during the previous year. The sales value of handloom cloth in
the corporate sector during 1988-89 was Rs.2.90 crore.
The number of looms in the unorganised sector decreased by 2.7 per
cent during the year to 29,316 compared to 30,130 at the end of the
previous year. The production of hand-loom cloth in this sector
during 1988-89 was 42 million metres valued at Rs.25.50 crores.
The total budget provision (plan and Non plan) for the handloom
industry for the year 1988-89 was Rs.l073.45 lakh. The expenditure
was Rs.1033.16 lakh or 96.2 per cent of the budget provision.
Special provisions were made in the budget under Special Component
Plan (S.C.P.) and Tribal Sub-Plan (T.S.P.) for the welfare of
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe weavers. Entire provisions of
Rs.46 lakh under S.C.P. and Rs.7.86 lakh under T.S.P. have been
spent. During the year 290 persons (250 SC and 40 ST) were given
training in handloom weaving. An amount of Rs.463 lakhs was
disbursed as rebate during the year which included the central share
of Rs.120 lakhs. The value of unsold stock with the Handloom
Development Corporation, however, declined from Rs.2.65 lakh at the
end of 1987-88 to Rs.2 lakh at the end of 1988-89.
The Kerala State Handloom Weavers' Apex Society (HANTEX) with 389
members, had a paid up capital of Rs.342.02 lakh as on 30-6-1989
against the authorised share capital of Rs.500 lakh. The state
government has invested Rs.327.02 lakh as share capital in this apex
society. The working capital of the society as on 30-6-1989 amounted
to Rs.14.10 crore. During the year under review the apex society has
purchased yarn worth Rs.87 lakhs and distributed yarn worth Rs.94
lakhs to primary societies. It has procured handloom cloth worth
Rs.6.18 crore from primary societies. The sales turn over of Hantex
during 1988-89 was Rs.8.35 crore, which was less by 16.5 per cent
compared to the previous year's sales turnover of Rs.10 crore.
The Kerala State Handloom Development Corporation with a paid up
capital of Rs.2.02.14 lakh at the end of 1988-89 covered 6984 looms.
During the year the Corporation produced handloom goods worth
Rs.242.45 lakh and sold goods worth Rs.200 lakh.
The Corporation has a subsidiary company by name Kerala Garments
Ltd., with an installed capacity to manufacture 3 lakhs shirts per
annum.
During the year ended 30-9-1988, the company has produced 1.12 lakh
pieces of garments, besides small items like bed sheets, pillow
covers etc. and realised Rs.25.42 lakh as stitching charges. During
1988-89, the sales turnover of the company was Rs.2.16 lakh. The net
loss of the company as per provisional accounts was Rs.8.22 lakh.
The working of the company continued to be much below the installed
capacity, resulting in sustan-ined losses.
The main problems confronting handloom industry are lack of working
capita, non-availability of raw materials, price fluctuations and
low sales turnover dur to competition from the mill sector.
All the production units in the organised sector viz., co-operative
societies and the Handloom Development Corporation including its
subsidiary 'Kerala Garments Ltd.', are working on loss, with the
result, these organisations experience difficulty in getting working
capital loan from financial institutions. This situation results in
further producation loss and these organisations with huge over head
costs suffer further loss, culminating in a vicious circle. The
soluction to this problem lies in making the working of these
institutions efficient by increasing productivity and earning
profit.
CASHEW INDUSTRY
Cashew Industry is mainly in the factory sector, but it is
considered as traditional mainly because of the low level of
technology involved in the processing of cashewnut. The contribution
of labour in the value added in processing of raw nuts is 60 to 65
per cent. This industry has assumed importance because more than one
lakh persons, mostly women are employed in it.
There were 274 cashew factories in the state as at the end of
December 1988, employing 1.11 lakh persons which shows an increase
of 10 factories and 4000 labourers over those at the end of the
previous year. Cashew industry accounted for only 2.2 per cent of
the total number of registered factories in the state, but it
accounted for 35.9 per cent of the total number of factory workers.
The Kerala Raw Cashewnuts (Procurement and distribution) Act, 1981
empowers the government of Kerala to appoint an agent for the
monopoly procurement of raw cashewnuts within the state. As per the
Act, the government have appointed the Kerala State Cashew Workers'
Apex Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd. (CAPEX) as the sole agent
for procuring rawnuts during 1989 cashew season also. The CAPEX,
through 819 primary co-operative societies, could procure 94.240
tonnes of rawnuts during 1989 cashew season. The quantity of rawnuts
procured by CAPEX increased by about 49.6 per cent, over 63,000
tonnes of rawnuts procured during the previous year. An amount of
Rs.49.90 crore was allotted to CAPEX as loan for the purpose. The
procurement price fixed ranged between Rs.11.50 and Rs.13.00 and the
selling price from Rs.13.00 to Rs.14.50 per kg.
Government of Kerala have authorised CAPEX as agent for procuring
raw nuts during 1990 cashew season also. It is proposed to procure
one lakh tonnes of raw nuts during 1990 cashew season. The estimated
expenditure of Rs.50 crores required for the procurement operations
is being raised from Kerala State Co-operative Bank Ltd., in
consortium with District Cooperative Banks other than those in
Wayanad and Idukki.
The foreign exchange earnings from cashew showed declining trend
during 1988-89 also. The net earnings decreased from Rs.260.33 crore
in 1987-88 to Rs.227.08 crore in 1988-89. Only 34023 tonnes of
cashew kernels valued at Rs.276 crore could be exported during the
year compared to 36949 tonnes valued at Rs.323 crore during the
previous year. The quantity and value of cashew kernels exported
declined by about 8 per cent and 14 per cent respectively over the
previous year. The quantity and value of cashew shell liquid also
declined by about 53 per cent and 49 per cent respectively compared
to those in 1987-88. Raw cashewnuts imported during 1988-89 declined
to 37078 tonnes valued at Rs.51.89 crore against 42256 tonnes worth
Rs.67.25 crore in 1987-88.
Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation had 70 factories under
its control employing 50,274 workers at the end of 1988-89. About
100 days' of work was given to the workers. The Corporation could
process 53,772 tonnes of rawnuts valued at Rs.7559.00 lakh during
1988-89. The quantity and value of nuts processed during 1988-89
increased by 95 per cent and 76 per cent respectively over the
preious year's 27530 tonnes valued at Rs.4433 lakh. As a result
production of cashew kernels increased by 101% to 13108 tonnes
valued at Rs.10860 lakhs during the year, compared to 6510 tonnes of
kernels in 1987-88. The sales turnover during 1988-89 was Rs.85
crores. The estimated turnover during 1989-90 is Rs.110 crore and
that projected for 1990-91 is Rs.125 crore. The Corporation suffered
a loss of Rs.2.95 crore during 1988-89 raising the accumulated loss
to Rs.42.93 crore. The Corporation has replaced old equipment in the
factories and is currently implementing a modernisation programme in
34 old factories.
Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Co-operative Society
Limited (CAPEX) was registered on 9-8-1984 for taking over the
closed cashew factories and organising them into industrial
co-operative societies. There were 9 factories employing 4360
labourers under CAPEX at the end of 1988-89. These factories
processed 4390.60 tonnes of raw nuts valued at Rs.609.95 lakh,
during the year which was substantially higher than 2038.68 tonnes
valued at Rs.294.4 lakh processed in 1987-88. The Society provided
employment for 116 days to its employees. CAPEX exported 988 tonnes
of cashew kernel worth Rs.748.5 lakh in 1988-89 against 659.2 tonnes
valued at Rs.547.6 lakh exported in 1987-88. 53 tonnes of cashew
kernels were sold in the domestic market, during 1988-89 taking the
total turnover to Rs-772.50 lakh.
The Kerala Dinesh Beedi Workers' Central Co-operative Society plays
a dominant role in promoting the beedi industry. 22 Primary Beedi
Workers' Co-operative Societies are functioning under it. The
society provided employment to 32,670 workers during 1988-89. 25% of
the workers are women, working in about 500 sheds spread over the
three northern districts of Kasaragod, Kannur and Kzhikode. Most of
the worksheds are taken on heavy rent. The society has planned to
construct 350 worksheds in a phased manner. Besides paying
reasonably high wages, the company is implementing social security
schemes including pension.
The total number of beedies manufactured during the year 1988-89 was
531.06 crores worth Rs.27.04 crore. During the year the production
decreased by 27 per cent. The value of raw materials consumed by the
society amounted to Rs.4.46 crore and the wages and salaries and
bonus paid to the workers and staff of the primary and central
societies amounted to Rs. 18.64 lakh. The sale proceeds of the
society during 1988-89 was Rs.28.08 crore. More than 99 per cent of
the raw materials consumed by the society are imported from other
states wh'ile about 87 per cent of the sale proceeds are realised
from the domestic market. The net profit of the society during
1988-89 was Rs.26.11 lakh.
Sericulture
Sericulture is being implemented in the state on a modest scale in
selected pockets from 1986-87 onwards. As at the end of 1988-89 an
area of 467 hectares (1167 acres) in different parts of the state
had been brought under Sericulture, involving 1555 farmers. It is
expected that during 1989-90 an additional area of around 600
hectares would be brought under Sericulture and the total area
covered by the programme at the end of Seventh Plan would be 1100
hectares (2750 acres). Realising the feasibility of the programme
and employment potential, it is proposed to extend the programme on
a large scale in all the district of Kerala during the Eighth Plan
period. A target of 28,000 acres (11,200 hectares) has been proposed
for the whole state, at the rate of 2000 acres (800 hectares) per
district during the Eighth Plan. In view of the high employment
potential in rural areas, Sericulture has been recognised as a major
thrust area of development.
Mining
The Department of Mining and Geology continued its activities
connected with the exploration and development of mineral resources
in the state, during 1988-89. The Department carried out the
functions entrusted with it under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation
and Development) Act of 1967 for regulating the mining activities in
the state quite satisfactorily. The investigations conducted by the
department have proved a number of mineral occurrences in various
parts of the state. The working of the 'Miniral Squad' set up by the
Department at Trivandrum was very effective in checking clandestine
mining and transport of valuable minerals from the state and in
enhancing the revenue from the mining sector. The production of
major minerals/in the state including ilmenite, rutile and zircon
has increased during 1988-89 as compared to the previous year's
performance.
The Kerala Mineral Exploration and Development Project (KMEDP)
started with the assistance of the UNDP in 1977 carried out a number
of emplo-ratory works on various valuable minerals in the state. The
Project continued the investigation for primary gold in Maruda area
in Malappuram District during 1988-89 with a view to augmenting the
reserves proved earlier. Analysis of the trench samples taken from
this area has given encouraging results. Efforts were made to
involve the Government of India or-gainsations like Indian Bureau of
Mines for setting up a pilot scale mining and concentration plant
with a capacity of 400 tonnes per day for the concentration of gold
from the river gravels of Chaliyarpuzha and Punnap-puzha in Nilambur.
The Project carried out a detailed exploration at Chirakkadavu
graphite prospect by trenching, pitting and mapping to delineate
individual graphite bands for establishing a pilot scale mining and
beneficiation plant.
As part of the filed programmes for 1988-89 a feollow up geochemical
survey was conducted in some parts of Idukki District where an
anomaly for silver was delineated during regional surveys. In
addition to this, systematic examination of, dolerite occurrences
was continued during this period in parts of Kasaragod, Waya-nad,
Palghat, Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts with a view
to exploiting the export potential and indigenous demand for black
and coloured dimension and ornamental stones. Besides, the project
could identify three prspective areas for gmstones in Quilon
District during the field season, 1988-89.
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