Belgaum: Coarse wool producers, particularly in northern Karnataka, may not know that a potential market worth more than Rs. 100 crores is awaiting them and it only needs to be tapped.

Coarse wool is the raw material for the manufacture of blankets, pillows, cushions, covers, tea cozies, floor coverings and a dozen other products that can be used for home furnishing. That a potential market exists in other countries is evident in the fact that a Belgaum-based non-governmental organisation, Shramik Abhivrudhi Sangh (SAS), secured orders worth Rs. 5.5 crores for coarse wool products from foreign dealers during a trade fair at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, in October this year. Companies from European countries, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore were the main customers.

"Had our stall been somewhere in the front rows and in a prime gallery and not at the end of the last gallery, I am afraid we could not have handled the demand and the clientele," Gopi Krishna, SAS coordinator, said. The response at the fair was tremendous and highly encouraging, he added.

It was the first time that the SAS participated in the trade fair. Its objective was to create awareness about coarse wool, particularly that from the "Deccani" breed, which is common in northern Karnataka. Its natural colours — mainly black, white and five other shades — besides quality, make it a commodity in demand.

But shepherds are unaware of scientific rearing practices and the potential for woollen products in international markets, though they are adept at 11 indigenous technologies and weaving skills.

To prevent the extinction of the robust Deccani breed in northern Karnataka, the SAS has, in partnership with CALPI (Capitalisation of Livestock Programme Experiences India), a development programme of the Swiss Development Corporation, Intercooperation, initiated a pilot project for the development of remunerative market for wool and value-added wool products. In March this year, it took up pre-market interventions in terms of shearing (cleaning of animals and grading of wool according to length, micron and colour), raw material processing, evolving better technologies for spinning, carding, felting and finishing, product design and development, diversification and value addition.

The SAS has organised shepherds and formed 67 self-help groups of women and trained them.

According to Kamal Kishore, a scientist in sheep genetics from Kashmir, Zaffarulla Baig from a multinational corporation based in Germany, and Rev. Joe Chenakala, who are associated with SAS, the main aim of the pilot project is to reach out to shepherds, many of whom live like nomads in northern Karnataka and areas near western Andhra Pradesh and south-eastern Maharashtra. The thrust is on developing strategies and skills to create self-employment opportunities and provide market interventions to ensure better prices for woollen products.

Mr. Krishna said there is no need for interventions to improve the Deccani breed or to process coarse wool.

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