In a year ( 2020-21) marred by Covid-19 pandemic, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) recorded the highest ever turnover in its history clocking `95, 741.74 crore, as compared to `88,887 crore in 2019-20. This translated into an increase of 7.71%.
KVIC’s record performance in 2020-21 assumes great significance as production activities remained suspended for more than three months during the nationwide lockdown announced on March 25 last year. During this period, all Khadi production units and sales outlets too remained closed that severely affected the production and sales.
KVI Chairman VK saxena said that despite adverse conditions, , KVIC rose to Prime Minister’s clarion calls for “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “Vocal for Local”.
The innovative marketing ideas of MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari diversified KVIC’s product range, scaled up local production and paved the way for Khadi’s successive growth, he said.
Compared to the year 2015-16, the overall production in Khadi and Village Industry sectors in 2020-21 has registered a whopping growth of 101% while the gross sales during this period increased by 128.66%.
A host of initiatives like launch of Khadi e-portal, Khadi masks, Khadi footwear, Khadi Prakritik Paint, Khadi hand sanitizers, etc., setting up of a record number of new PMEGP units, new SFURTI clusters, government’s push to “Swadeshi” and KVIC’s historic agreements with Paramilitary forces for supply of provisions increased the turnover of village industry sector during the pandemic.
Compared to the production of `65,393.40 crore in 2019-20, the production in village industry sector increased to `70,329.67 crore in 2020-21.
Similarly, in FY 2020-21, the sales of village industry products stood at `92,214.03 crore as compared to `84,675.29 crore in 2019-20.
The production and sales in the Khadi sector, however, declined by a small margin as spinning and weaving activities across the country took a major hit during the pandemic.
The overall production in the Khadi sector in 2020-21 was recorded at `1904.49 crore as compared to `2292.44 crore in 2019-20, while the overall Khadi sales stood at ` 3527.71 crore as compared to `4211.26 crore in the previous year.