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Industrial development in Kerala began in the late 18th century with the establishment of a jute mill and a unit to manufacture coir mats. In recent years many small and medium enterprises have been established in various locations in Kerala, even though it is not considered an industrial state because of its large number of agricultural workers. Kerala has 481 medium and large industrial units in different manufacturing sectors. The major industrial activities include plywood, cashew industries, coir and coir products, cotton chemical industry and textile industry, synthetic fabrics, metal products, engineering, and electrical goods, besides rubber and plastic products.
About the Chemical and textile industry
The chemical industry is the branch of the Manufacturing Industry concerned with producing chemicals, materials, and products through various chemical processes. The chemical industry is one of the major manufacturing industries in India. The textile industry involves converting raw materials such as cotton, silk, or wool into finished goods. It involves cleaning, combing, spinning, weaving, and dyeing. There is a huge demand for this sector today due to industrial growth and population increase. Kerala alone has 40 textile mills that are engaged in spinning and weaving.
The chemical industry in Kerala
The chemical industry in Kerala has its origin in synthetic artificial fibers. The first ground was laid for synthetic fibers in 1938 at the Travancore Rayons Ltd. Despite a backward and slow agricultural economy, some new industries were started by enterprising industrialists like I.Kelappan, A.Cherian, and A.M.Vambat.
There are three major plants in the State-Travancore Rayons Ltd., Hindustan Cement Ltd., and Kerala Aluminium Industries Ltd. Each of these manufacturing units has its distinctive features. Travancore Rayons Ltd., established in 1937, is a major machinery plant with a capacity of 6,000 tons per annum and one of the largest in India, besides being the first to introduce acrylic yarns with a wide variety of colors and patterns. The H.C.L. plant, established in 1942, works on the principle of bottle cap fiber which is used extensively in the rubber and plastic trades. K.A.L.I.L. is a major aluminum plant with a capacity of 2,400 tons of sheet metal per annum. The five plywood manufacturing units are owned by Travancore Rayons Ltd., Cotton, and Textile Co-operative Society, Travancore Rayons Ltd., Kumari Plywood Industries Ltd., and Kothari Plywood Industries Ltd. The major industries include textile spinning mills, thermocol products, rubber and plastic products, and construction work.
Textile industry in Kerala
Kerala accounts for more than 65% of the total production of art silk in India. The art silk industry is one of the most important segments in the textile sector on account of its export potential. In addition to this, there are milk food products, cotton fabric units, and other small industries like tires, metal, and wood fabrication units. There are eight major industries in Kerala involved in textiles, garments, and allied products.
The important textile units are Travancore Coir Industry (Handlooms), Kudumbasree Textiles, Kumari Handlooms, and Model Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society (M.H.W.C.S.)
Difference between the chemical industry and textile industry
There are several key points to distinguish between the chemical and textile industries.
The chemical industry is a highly capital intensive sector and employs only a small number of workers (1.3 per 1000) due to its highly automated production process. The chemical industry’s output is directly proportional to the capital employed (Kerala Chemical Fact Sheet) and is considered one of the most important industries in the state.
On the other hand, textiles have been employing many workers as a labor-intensive industry in which most processes are manual, unlike in the chemical industry. The growth rate of textiles in Kerala is very high compared to the other states. The state has promoted the power loom industry, which is mainly responsible for women’s employment in the field.
The chemical industry and textile industry have their essence and economic importance. Both are important sectors, but they cannot be combined because of their different nature and functioning. Chemicals are manufactured at high temperatures and pressure. Hence they are not influenced by climatic conditions. At the same time, textiles are affected by climatic conditions. The chemical industry is less labour-intensive, and the manufacturing process is automated.
But the textile industry is highly labour-intensive, and it uses more manual technology in the production process. It also has a high rate of failure in the production process because of its instability. The chemical industries are concentrated in Thrissur and Palakkad, whereas textile industries are clustered around Cochin port due to its better infrastructure facilities than other ports in Kerala.
Conclusion
The Chemical industry should not be compared with the textile industry. The chemical industry is important; it is a highly capital intensive sector and employs only a few workers due to its highly automated production process. At the same time, the textile industry is labor-intensive and uses more manual technology in the production process. The output of the chemical industries is directly proportional to the capital employed, whereas, in the textile sector, there exists an inverse relationship between output and labor employed. Distinguishing between the chemical and textile industries can be done by using these factors.
