Payakaraopeta handloom weavers struggle as saris win markets

Payakaraopeta's handloom cotton and silk saris, known for intricate designs and weighing barely 600 grams, continue to find buyers in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. But the 292 weavers who produce them face rising costs, low income and growing competition from power looms, Deccan Chronicle reports.

Each sari takes over 10 days to complete and sells for between ₹3,500 and ₹20,000. Yet artisans earn around ₹6,000 a month or less, says society manager G.V. Nageshwar Rao. Weavers say they depend on traders from Hyderabad, Chirala and Uppada who control the market. A fabric called "Nool Number" has disappeared due to lack of branding, according to local shop owner Malla Sambasiva Rao Chinnaji.

Climate change adds to the hardship. Weavers in Nakkapalli say rising heat forces them to work only from 4.30 am to 9 or 10 am, as sweat can stain the fabric. Younger generations are leaving the craft. "Our survival depends on recognition, support and renewed interest in preserving traditional weaving against the tide of mechanisation," says weaver Bandaru Ramalakshmi.