Coir Board to propagate coir products globally

Eco-friendly and versatile coir is the fibre of the future and the Coir Board proposes to take steps for propagation of coir products globally and to widen the rural employment potential, specially among women, a top Board official said.    

There are 23 ongoing collaboration projects of which 14 are undertaken by the Central Coir Research Institute (CCRI) at Alappuzha with scientific institutions like Bhaba Research Institute. The rest are undertaken by the Central Institute of Coir Technology (CICT), Bangalore, coming under CCRI, V S Vijayaraghavan, Chairman, Coir Board, told PTI.   

CICT, involved in doing research and development activities, has done pioneering work in development of coir composite board, capable of replacing wood in the form of doors furniture, kitchen cabinet and coir tray in a big way,he said.   

He said these products were yet to be commercially exploited. To boost sales of coir and coir products, the Board plans to introduce various incentives at its showrooms and sales outlets across the country,he said.    

The existing 30 showrooms achieved a total turnover of Rs 11.19 crore last year, achieving 86.10 per cent of their target against 79.29 per cent during the previous year with a sales turnover of Rs 10.30 crore, he said.

Vijayaraghavan said under the Rejuvenation, Modernisation and Technological Upgradation' (REMOTE) scheme, which will be implemented in the 11th plan with a total outlay of Rs 243 crore, the Board has already released Rs 7.96 crore by setting up 997 spinning units.    

The scheme would provide additional employment to 7,976 workers and Rs 21.54 crore for putting up 1077 units in the tiny household sector, providing direct employment to 6,462 workers, he said.    

Coir has excellent air, water and light permeability, is fire retardant, dust absorbent, biodegradable, hygienic and durable. The flexible nature of the fabric, coir could be crafted to the finest perfection resulting in superior works of art, perfect for home decor. It can also be used for making attractive ornaments.   

Verena Schaetzlein, Designer from Berlin, a German expert in ornament designing has imparted training for 53 women from different NGOs and societies at the CCRI in making coir ornaments using coir fibre, he said.    

The third edition of India International Coir Fair is scheduled to be organised later this year in Alappuzha, where the country's first coir manufacturing unit was started in the second half of the 19th century, he said.    

Today there are 10,000 small scale coir manufacturers engaged in the production of coir products and they use traditional technology combined with a unique skill to produce coir products that are sought after by exporters.    

Alappuzha coir is exported to more than 80 countries. At present there are about 250 exporters of coir and coir products, he said.