Weavers’ cooperative APCO holding golden jubilee celebrations
: Education Minister Nara Lokesh will lead the golden jubilee celebrations of the state handloom weavers’ cooperative on July 6, marking five decades of the cooperative’s contribution to preserving the state’s rich handloom heritage and securing the livelihood of thousands of weaver families.
Established on July 6, 1976, by the merger of Hyco Fabrics, Raya Fabrics and Andhra Handlooms, APCO was established to provide assured marketing support to cooperative unions of handloom weavers, create permanent employment for weavers and improve their socio-economic conditions.
APCO claims to have evolved into a leading handloom marketing organization sourcing products from over 1,000 cooperatives and marketing them through nearly 80 showrooms across the country, expanding its reach through e-commerce and digital platforms.
The golden jubilee comes amid renewed government support for the sector. In 2025, APCO revised bleaching and dyeing fees and increased wages for weavers producing sheets and towels; this led to an overall increase of 108 per day. The government has also strengthened the supply of uniforms, bedding and other textile requirements for social welfare institutions by ensuring sustainable production orders and regular employment.
Over the years, APCO has played a role in preserving famous handloom traditions such as Dharmavaram silks, Venkatagiri saris, Uppada Jamdani, Mangalagiri fabrics, Chirala textiles, Bandar weaves and the internationally renowned Ponduru Khadi. He also received the SKOCH Award-2025 for introducing the computerized online billing system.
As APCO enters its sixth decade, the cooperative organization has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving Andhra Pradesh’s handloom heritage through innovation, stronger market access and continued support to weaver families. APCO managing director K Kannababu invited weavers, officials and public to join the golden jubilee celebrations.
