Khadi sales record quantum jump of 33% in 2016-17

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) hit a big growth trajectory as the sale of khadi products shot up to Rs 2,005 crore in the fiscal year 2016-17, with nearly 33 per cent growth from Rs 1,510 crore during 2015-16. Even in the production – with a figure of Rs 1,396 crore in FY 2016-17, it had recorded a growth of 31 per cent.

Riding high on the upsurge in demand for Khadi products, the KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena expects to surpass the sales target of Rs 5,000 crore by the end of 2018-19.

"The sale of khadi products has recorded a quantum jump in 2016-17. We are getting handsome orders from the governments, corporates and schools/ colleges, state governments etc. We will achieve the sales target of Rs. 5,000 crore by the end of 2018-19," he said, adding, "This great leap of KVIC could only be possible due to the special emphasis given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the revival of Khadi and village industries, along with its artisans and workers. We have even crossed the set target of Rs 16 35 crore in 2016-17 by Rs 370 crore.

Saxena further said that Khadi India Showroom at Connaught Place had recorded the retail sale of Rs 96 crore in the financial year 2016-17.

"It is a titanic jump of 78 percent from the retail sale of Rs 54 crore in the financial year 2015-16. As far as the best single day sale is concerned, this outlet recorded a sale of Rs 1.11 crore on October 22, 2016," he said, adding, "The launch of several gift vouchers also attracted more customers and increased its sales. The scheme was particularly helpful for corporate houses and marketing agencies to gift their employees and clients as it is the new gifting trend in the corporate sections."

Saxena further said that the KVIC is also setting up export cells to promote overseas sales of the products.

"Currently, we are not doing direct exports but now we are pulling our socks to kick it off. It'll help in making khadi an international brand," he said. Further to improve the quality and sales of products, KVIC is regularly organising training programmes for spinners and weavers in areas like designing and marketing.

While the overall sales of both Khadi and village industries had jumped over 24 per cent to approximately Rs51,996 crore in 2016-17, the production had also shot up over 23 percent to Rs 42,506 crore.

The khadi and village industries products are manufactured by about 7 lakh privately-owned household units.

These units are funded through schemes such as Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme.