Srinagar: The Valley may be producing a large quantity of wool, the lack of infrastructure however plays the spoilsport.
Industry men say because of the lack infrastructure in the Valley, 90 per cent of the wool is exported to outside state for processing.
Experts say after processing it, the finished goods are again imported into the Valley.
Experts say the Valley produces 67 lakh kgs of wool every year. "Of this, only one lakh kilograms are processed for making woolen cloths in both private and government sectors in Kashmir," they said.
Experts say because of the lack of infrastructure, people are reluctant to invest in this sector.
"There are only a handful of businesspeople who have ventured into the sector," said a private wool-processing unit holder.
Experts believe the processing of woolen and making of garments in Kashmir could be cheaper than those produced from outside.
The cent percent utilization of wool would not only fulfill the Valley woolen garment needs but has also the potential of creating huge employment in the valley, they say, adding that at present the industry provides employment to just some 300 odd people.
In the Valley there are only a few wool processing private units, among them the largest one is Kashmir Cloths Mill.
"Ours is the largest woolen garment production firm in private sector. We produce tweed and woolen blankets at the unit," Managing Director Kashmir Cloths Mill, S D Baba, said.
"Many government agencies require woolen blankets and tweed annually here. But they import from outside," he said, suggesting that the government should procure woolen goods from the local units.
According to Baba the state has the potential to produce woolen cloths worth Rs 300 crores annually.
Baba said the wool produced in the Valley should be utilized within a year. "Wool has just one year shelf life and if it is not utilized within this time, it will turn into dust," he said.
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