The Wool Federation of Himachal, which is struggling to sell the wool it has bought from local shepherds, will receive assistance from the Himachal government, according to Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Chander Kumar.
The federation had suggested the wool stock purchased from shepherds for Rs. 70 per kg be sold for about Rs. 40 per kg, which is the going market rate. The strategy was being thought out. He said that while the Government would accept the loss to the Wool Federation, it would not stand by and watch shepherds go through hardship.
The Ghamantu Pashupalak Sabha’s president, Akshay Jasrotia, announced that the federation is currently selling raw wool. If it started categorizing wool, the price would increase. The necessary infrastructure to wash wool is also present in the federation. That, however, was not being used. Wool that has been washed can sell for more money, he continued.
But according to Deepak Saini, deputy general manager of the Wool Federation, “If we start grading wool, a big amount of it will remain unsold. Wool is not being washed because woolen clothing producers already have their own cleaning processes in place. In general, they oppose washing wool at the federation’s facility.
According to sources, the State Government has reportedly neglected to take advantage of several incentives provided by the Wool Federation of India to improve the infrastructure for processing wool in order to increase the market value of the product. State federations are given Rs. 5 crores by the national federation to aid in the construction of the required infrastructure. The Himachal Wool Federation has yet to apply for such a grant, nevertheless.
On the other hand, authorities are of the opinion that to raise the value of the wool produced in the state, organic certification should be pursued.
