Organic Cotton Farming
Despite the pulls and pressures of the multinational companies to use BT cotton and other hazardous chemical inputs, Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti (MSS) has been constantly mobilizing local farmers to grow organic, chemical-free cotton. This year, MSS provided 206 farmers with indigenous cotton seeds and brought 2000 acres of land under organic cotton. Some of these farmers supply organic cotton to the MSS Khadi unit. Actually MSS is one of the major organic Khadi producing units in the country.
Organic Cotton Rowing Unit
To safeguard the organic farmers from exploitation by the market forces, MSS established cotton collection, storage, and processing unit in the village Girad.
The unit financially supports 100 farmers by providing them the facility to deseed cotton and convert the raw cotton into transportable bales. From these farmers, the Magan Khadi fabric unit buys organic cotton at 20% higher than the market rate.
Hand Spinning Unit
To reduce drudgery, increase productivity, and earning of the women spinners, MSS replaced the hand-operated Charkhas (Spinning Wheels) by solar operated Ambar Charkhas. This appropriate intervention has doubled the production and earnings of the Khadi spinners. The spinning unit provides employment to women spinners, including old and physically handicapped women.
Hand Weaving Unit
The number of Khadi weavers is dwindling down as the younger generation of artisans is losing interest in the traditional craft. To fill this gap, MSS is training women from the farming community in Khadi weaving. Presently, weavers from Wardha, Nagpur, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal are engaged in the weaving and processing of Magan Khadi fabric.
Natural Dyeing
To combat the environmental hazards of chemical dyes and conserve the environment, MSS set up the Natural Dyeing and Printing unit. In this unit, processing, dyeing and printing of Khadi yarn and fabric is done by using natural, chemical-free dyes.In this unit, Indigo and forest produce like Harda, Behada, Aam, Palash, Pakpu, Bibba, Amar, Manjishtha, Dhrawri, etc. are used for dyeing Khadi.
The Households of five tribal villages earn a sustainable livelihood by supplying these raw materials to Magan Khadi natural dyeing Unit.
Printing Unit
For non-traditional women artisans, MSS developed a low-cost innovative printing technique where a fresh leaf is used as a printing block. From a single leaf, 200 motifs could be printed.
MSS also trained women artisans in hand-printing techniques like wood-metal block printing, Kasim line printing, eco-printing, brush painting, spray printing, tie & dye, Indigo Shibori, discharge technique, clay printing, and watt printing. These women artisans are trained to print on cotton, Silk and wool fabric.