COVID-19 leads to 16% decline in Khadi sales in 2020-21

The impact of COVID-19 on spinning and weaving activities in the country led to a 16 per cent year-on-year decline in Khadi sales to Rs 3,527.71 crore in 2020-21. The overall production in the Khadi sector also declined to Rs 1,904.49 crore in 2020-21, as compared to Rs 2,292.44 crore in 2019-20, it added. However, Khadi and Village Industries commission (KVIC) recorded a gross annual turnover of Rs 95,741.74 crore in 2020-21 as against Rs 88,887 crore in 2019-20.

The production activities remained suspended for more than three months during the nationwide lockdown announced on March 25 last year. All Khadi production units and sales outlets remained closed affecting production and sales.

Compared to the production worth Rs 65,393.40 crore in 2019-20, the output in the village industry sector increased to Rs 70,329.67 crore in 2020-21. Similarly, in 2020-21, the sales of village industry products stood at Rs 92,214.03 crore as compared to Rs 84,675.29 crore in 2019-20.