Nagaland handloom industry faces new challenge, says official

State government working on modules for GIS mapping of handloom products

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 17 (EMN): Posing a new challenge to handloom products made in Nagaland, people from other places are advancing in producing such items and selling at a cheaper price, according to Director of Industries and Commerce, K Hokishe Assumi.

The official was addressing the inaugural programme of the  two-day workshop on handicrafts marketing organised by the office of the Development Commissioner (handicrafts), Government of India, under the ministry of Textiles, Handicrafts Service Centre Kohima, on Wednesday.

Assumi said that the Industries and Commerce department is coming up with strategies to tackle the new challenge caused by the advancement in production of handloom items.

The department is working on modalities to give a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to textiles and handicrafts products of the state, he added.

Asserting that weaving and knitting are innate qualities of the Nagas and should be promoted, the official said technology must not affect age-old practices and talents.

Assumi also maintained that some people have taken Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to discover their skills and talents; to be innovative and pursue sustainability, while others took it as an obstacle to move forward. He urged the participants to identify their talents and pursue the same, be it handloom, handicrafts or any profession for that matter.

The managing director of Nagaland Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited, Zakabo Rotokha, also told the participants to make use of the workshop to hone their knowledge. Polish your products, be more creative, innovative and improvise production, he added.

Senior Assistant Director (handicrafts), T Rollee Vareishim delivered welcome address earlier in the programme.

The two-day workshop will cover various topics like: Packaging of handicrafts items for marketing, importance of design for handicrafts marketing, importance of quality and utility, and utility of handicrafts amongst others.