In House Wool Carding to Revive Kashmir’s Namda Craft | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir on Tuesday took a key step towards reviving Kashmir’s traditional Namda craft by awarding a contract for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of card cloth for a wool carding machine, officials said.

The contract has been awarded through the Mechanical and Hospitals Engineering Department, enabling in house wool carding and reducing dependence on outsourcing, which has long added to costs and delays for Namda artisans.

Officials said the commissioned wool carding machine has an annual processing capacity of around 29,000 kilograms of wool. The enhanced capacity is expected to significantly strengthen the local value chain linked to Namda production and directly benefit artisans by lowering production costs and improving turnaround time.

In a statement, Deputy Director UNDP Mirza Shahid Ali said Jammu and Kashmir is the second largest producer of wool fibre in the country and ranks first in Merino wool production. Despite this, a large quantity of raw wool has traditionally been sent outside the Union Territory for carding, leading to higher expenses and logistical challenges.

He said the new facility would provide a cost effective, efficient and less labour intensive solution, playing a major role in strengthening sustainable livelihoods, enhancing productivity and preserving Kashmir’s handicraft heritage, particularly the Namda craft, which is witnessing a revival.

The department reiterated its commitment to providing modern infrastructure and technical support to traditional crafts to ensure their sustainability, revival and global competitiveness.