Handloom weavers pin hopes on online platform as pandemic threatens to disrupt market

The platform with NABARD support aims at helping weavers sell products across the globe adhering to quality standards

Handloom weavers in Ernakulam district, mostly comprising cooperative societies from Chendamangalam, are looking forward to a boost in sales through its newly launched online platform, as the third wave of COVID-19 threatens to disrupt the market.

The online platform, with support from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), has been launched at a time when weavers’ societies are facing serious shortage of raw materials like hang yarn. The steep rise in prices of raw materials too has come as a big setback to traditional handloom production units, which had been hoping for a revival of fortunes after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and Onam and Christmas seasons saw an increase in sales.

The Chendamangalam Handloom Weavers Societies Empowerment Consortium has soft-launched the online marketing platform, said Ajith Kumar Gothuruth, secretary of Chendamangalam-Karimpadam Weaving Cooperative H191. He added that the platform would help weavers sell their products across the globe adhering to quality standards.