The Kano State Government has earmarked N50 million for the establishment of a Tie and Dye Cluster at Kwachiri in Fagge Local Government Area.
The state Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism, Rabi’u Ahmad, disclosed this when the Kofar Mata Dye-pit Association visited him on Friday.
A statement by Shehu Sani, the Ministry’s spokesman, said that necessary facilities would be provided at the cluster to further strengthen the association’s capacity.
He disclosed that a piece of land had been identified and secured at Fagge Local Government for the establishment of the cluster.
The commissioner said the preservation of cultural heritage was one of the cardinal principles of the Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration.
He said that a nine-member committee was set up by Ganduje to review the Kano State Tourism Master Plan (2014-2020) and advise government on implementation strategies.
In her remark, the State Director of Tourism, Hajiya Rabi Mansur, urged the dyers to add value to their work and improve its standard.
Earlier, the Association’s chairman, Danjuma Muhammad, identified dilapidated nature of their place of work and insufficient capital as the major challenges facing them.
Muhammad also urged the Ministry to facilitate government’s interest-free loans for members.
It will be recalled that For over 500 years, tye and dye makers in Kano state have crouched down over circular pits in the earth to make beautiful designs from natural ingredients on fabrics that attract buyers from all over the world.
The former major producer of royal fabrics used to make attires for traditional rulers in the state; the Kofar Mata dye pit has now become a dumping ground for refuse.
The Kofar dye pits established in 1498 is said to be the oldest in Africa, and is located one kilometer away from the Emir of Kano’s Palace.
Despite the recent setback, the dying process has not changed as water and ash give its glaze and is mixed with potassium to fix the colour.
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