Tamil Nadu   

Improve quality of products, manufacturers urged

Special Correspondent

Artisans must adapt to changing preference of consumers

— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

MEETING: K.V. Raghavalu, Chief General manager, NABARD, Chennai, N. Markandan, former Vice-Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural Institute, and R. Pothi Reddi, president, Federation of South India Producer Associations (SIPA) at a workshop in Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: The need for improving the quality of products was stressed by speakers at a workshop organised by the Federation of South India Producer Associations (SIPA) here on Friday. In the highly competitive global market it is difficult to sustain unless the manufacturer supplied quality product that too at a competitive rate, they said.

Chief General Manager of the NABARD K.V. Raghavalu inaugurating the workshop said the demand for handicraft was languishing due to poor marketing, use of low technology, and lack of innovative designs. He wanted artisans to adapt to changing preference of consumers. For this, the NABARD was helping agencies such as SIPA in upgrading the skills, applying modern technologies to suit market requirements.

NABARD also provided assistance to NGOs for implementing programmes such as rural habitat scheme, skill development initiatives, and establishment of rural market.

SPA's role

He lauded the role played by SPA in maintaining the quality of products of their member associations. It was able to associate closely with various government and non-market organisations in achieving its activities, he added.

N.Markandan, former Vice-chancellor of the Gandhigram Rural Institute, said Indian handicraft products were unique in the sense as no other country had such skilled labourers to manufacture them. If the country wanted to hold its share in the international market it should produce quality goods and for this artisans should be trained at regular intervals. Similarly marketing played a major role in the market and in the absence of good marketing network it would be difficult to sell the products. This was the case with khadi products, he said.

Abdul Kader, assistant director, Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicraft), appealed to manufacturers not to dilute standards at any cost as dilution of quality, especially in case of bulk supply, would lead to loss of market.

R.Pothi Reddy, president of the SIPA, said every artisan should make a self-assessment of his products to improve the quality.

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