KANNUR: Handloom weavers and exporters of the Kannur handloom cluster have been urged to focus on hi-tech weaving, dyeing and finishing of fabrics and on diversification of products to exploit the global opportunities in the textile sector.

Delivering a talk on `Appropriate technology for Kannur textile cluster' organised by the State Bank of India (SBI) as part of its Project Uptech (Textiles) for the cluster, R. Rajagopalan, chartered textile engineer and consultant, said that the textile cluster in Kannur comprising 3,000 handlooms and 600 power looms urgently required a switchover to semi-automatic looms.

He said the semi-automatic shuttle technology upgradation was appropriate for the cluster, considering the financial resources of the weavers. Ultimately the weavers had to opt for shuttleless weaving technology for which the Central Government was giving 20 per cent cash subsidy, he said.

Calling upon the weavers to change their mindset to go for technology upgradation, Mr. Rajagopalan said 30-odd exporters under the cluster who recorded an annual export of Rs.250 crores could opt for shuttleless weaving technology. As the shuttleless machines were not being manufactured in the country, the Government had permitted import of the used machines.

He said the exporters should form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and promote an integrated textile park here with facilities including weaving sheds, common yarn warping and sizing, common sectional warping, yarn dyeing and fabric finishing units, garment units and showrooms.

An integrated textile park would ensure facilities for processing and stitching as well as value-addition, Mr. Rajagopal said. The country's textile sector was facing deficiency of facilities for value-addition. Because of the low technology, the textile sector was facing operational loss.

He said wages earned by the weaver would increase as the capital investment increased. He suggested that the textile cluster here should explore possibilities of manufacturing colour-dyed shirtings/suitings on second hand rapier weaving machines, wider-width bed linen, furnishings and made-ups and ready-made items.

Earlier, SBI Deputy General Manager C. Chandramouli inaugurated the function. He said that the textile sector here should adopt new technologies to exploit new opportunities.

Speaking at the function, Kerala Handloom Exporters' Association secretary T. Ramakrishnan said that the high cost of production and high input cost due to lot of outsourcing were the two major problems facing the handloom sector here. The weaving units here were still using first generation looms as the handloom product line continued to be the strength of the cluster here, he said. He added that suitable technologies that could further strengthen this strength should be adopted.

SBI Assistant General Manager M. K. Premarajan was also present at the function.

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