KOCHI: Food processing and allied industrial units in the small-scale sector in Ernakulam district face the highest rate of sickness. The district accounts for the largest chunk (17.22 per cent) of the gross output in the small-scale sector in the State.
Of the small-scale industry (SSI) units working in the district, 31.5 per cent have reported continuous decline in gross output compared to the previous year. Of the 6,022 sick units listed in a study on the opportunities for small-scale industrial enterprises in the district, 987 (16.39 per cent) are food processing and allied industrial units. The study was conducted by the International Centre for Economic Policy and Analysis of the Department of Applied Economics, Cochin University of Science and Technology.
Textile, leather and wood-based units are also facing a high rate of sickness in the district, the study pointed out. There are 858 textile units, 74 leather units and 263 wood-based units in the sick list. Among the food processing units, flourmills accounted for 32.5 per cent of the units on the decline.
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