Focus on raw pashmina producers & 100% genuine pashmina products: Apex Committee
Leh: UT’s Secretary Industries and Commerce in the Saugat Biswas on Saturday chaired a meeting of UT level apex committee for pashmina development and discussed measures to develop and promote indigenous pashmina as leading brand of Ladakh.
The meeting was attended by Director Industries and Commerce, Moses Kunzang; Director Animal/Sheep Husbandry Department, Mohammad Raza; State Director of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), J&K and Ladakh; Additional Registrar, Cooperatives; Associate Director, Research and Extension, High Mountain Arid Agriculture Research Institute Leh (SKAUST-K), All Changthang Pashmina Ladakh, and expert members from National Institute of Designing, Ahmadabad.
Apart from making presentations on the production, supply chain of raw material, design, markets and sale of pashmina in Ladakh, the participants also discussed key challenges like production of raw material, processing, marketing etc.
Secretary Biswas directed for having a contingency plan for the future and also to have a comprehensive plan for fodder. He further directed the concerned officials to conduct an analysis in the matter and submit the report.
State KVIC Director shared details on conducting research on the production of yarn, exploring sustainable solutions, upgradation of skill, modification of the existing loom and the need for small interventions.
National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad suggested workshops on spinning, weaving, dyeing and customising pashmina products.
The matter of easing business in the realm of pashmina and pashmina products were discussed extensively. Improvement in the quality of yarn production, creation of a yarn bank for small entrepreneurs, setting up of the state-of-the-art roving unit, dehairing plant and incubation support were deliberated upon in the meeting.
The Director, Animal Husbandry was tasked to make a comprehensive assessment of fodder requirements for sustaining the goats during drought situations. Fodder banks for the growers and other incentives will be worked out to support the nomadic producers of Pashmina.
It was also decided that institutes of National importance such as NID & NIFT will collaborate with the UT Administration in supporting design inputs, training, product diversification/marketing & branding matters for overall quality improvement in the sector.
Entrepreneurs in the sector will be sent for capacity building and exposure visits in the coming months, said Biswas, Secretary Industries & Commerce, Ladakh. KVIC will coordinate with various schemes and handholding for quality improvement of yarn, he added.
