The State has produced a total of 966.83 lakh sq metre of handloom cloth worth Rs1,38,076.30 lakh during the last five years, informed Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Minister Snehangini Chhuria in the State Assembly on Saturday.
While 123.95 lakh sq metre handloom cloth had been produced in 2011-12, the production rose to 179.06 lakh sq metre in 2012-13, 214.46 lakh sq metre in 2013-14, 221.81 in 2014-15 and 227.52 in 2015-16.
As many as 43,652 handlooms were operating in the State in 2009-10 and about 69,910 people are now engaged in the sector.
The State exported handloom cloths worth Rs84 lakh in 2014-15, of Rs87 lakh in 2015-16 and of Rs79.75 lakh during the current year.
The Minister supplied this information in response to separate questions of MlAs Amar Prasad Satpathy (BJD) and Dilip Ray (BJP).