Aggarbatti
CASE 5 agarbnatti
INTRODUCTION The burning of incense in religious and social functions has been practised in India since early times. Hindu practice of offering prayers in temples and other places of worship,Dhup an aromatic powder or paste is burnt in Indian homes as a fragrant fumigant and is reputed to possess insecticidal and antiseptic properties. Agarbattis are obtainable in different colors and with different perfumes.The demand in internationalmarket is ever increasing and exported to almost to every country in the world. The burning time ;of an agarbatti varies from 15 minutes to 3 hours according to quality and size. About 75% of the agarbattis manufactured are of cheap quality containing only charcoal powder or low quality sandal wood powder with a mixture of 50% of “wood gun” powder. Cheap perfumes are used to give them a top note. In superior varieties, essential oils, purified resins, natural fixatives like amber, musk and civet are used along with synthetic aromatics. Absolutes are use in the costlier types.
The origin of agarbathi-making as a cottage industry can be traced to Thanjavur region of Tamil Nadu from where it spread to the neighbouring state of Karnataka, which currently is the largest producer in India, and to a lesser extent to Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar. Besides providing employment to unskilled women and children, in recent years, agarbathi has increasingly become a significant foreign exchange earner for the country. Under the liberal economic policies of the Government, the agarbathi industry has potential to expand its global market.
Trade and marketing set up
Agarbathi industry is gradually developing a wider base. Of the total domestic sales of Rs 7.1 billion (approx. US$ 198 million) in South India accounted for 35%, West 30%, North 18% and East 17%. Almost two-thirds of consumption took place in rural areas (61.23%).Rising demand for the products and earning of hard currency has led
INTRODUCTION The burning of incense in religious and social functions has been practised in India since early times. Hindu practice of offering prayers in temples and other places of worship,Dhup an aromatic powder or paste is burnt in Indian homes as a fragrant fumigant and is reputed to possess insecticidal and antiseptic properties. Agarbattis are obtainable in different colors and with different perfumes.The demand in internationalmarket is ever increasing and exported to almost to every country in the world. The burning time ;of an agarbatti varies from 15 minutes to 3 hours according to quality and size. About 75% of the agarbattis manufactured are of cheap quality containing only charcoal powder or low quality sandal wood powder with a mixture of 50% of “wood gun” powder. Cheap perfumes are used to give them a top note. In superior varieties, essential oils, purified resins, natural fixatives like amber, musk and civet are used along with synthetic aromatics. Absolutes are use in the costlier types.
The origin of agarbathi-making as a cottage industry can be traced to Thanjavur region of Tamil Nadu from where it spread to the neighbouring state of Karnataka, which currently is the largest producer in India, and to a lesser extent to Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar. Besides providing employment to unskilled women and children, in recent years, agarbathi has increasingly become a significant foreign exchange earner for the country. Under the liberal economic policies of the Government, the agarbathi industry has potential to expand its global market.
Trade and marketing set up
Agarbathi industry is gradually developing a wider base. Of the total domestic sales of Rs 7.1 billion (approx. US$ 198 million) in South India accounted for 35%, West 30%, North 18% and East 17%. Almost two-thirds of consumption took place in rural areas (61.23%).Rising demand for the products and earning of hard currency has led
References: Chatterjee, M. and Macwan, J., 1988. Occupational Health Issues of Self Employed Women: Agarbatti and Masala Workers of Ahmedabad. National Commission for Self Employed Women Workers. Hanumappa, H.G., 1996. Agarbathi: A Bamboo Based Industry in India. INBAR, Working Paper No. 9 ILO, 1999