Ahmedabad: umbrella manufacturing and trade in the state has beaten greatly due to a pandemic.
This is the second year in a row that the segment has been hit by Covid-19 pandemic.
Umbrella manufacturers and traders say that with the rainy season that is delayed in most countries, umbrella sales have been beaten further.
There are around 20 to 25 umbrella manufacturers in the state that have a combined turnover around Rs 25 Crore before the pandemic.
Kalpesh Dabgar, 47, an umbrella producer in Ahmedabad said that while umbrella production could almost be ignored last year, this year, only about 30% of the umbrellas were produced.
“Schools and colleges are closed and people have worked from home.
In addition, there is a delay in the Monsun too.
All of these factors have hit the sale of umbrella hard,” Dabgar said.
Most traders buy umbrellas from producers between March and June.
Jayesh Dabgar, whose family has been traded in umbrellas for decades, saying that umbrella sales in the retail market are almost zero.
“Last year, the total failed season.
This year, the second wave is at its peak when traders usually buy umbrellas from wholesalers and producers.
And to worsen the situation, existing shares are not sold because the rainy season has been delayed,” Jayesh said.