Cluster model helps sustain coir sector: Minister

Union minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), Dinsha J Patel stressed the need for modernisation of the traditional coir sector to make coir products globally competitive.

Inaugurating the common facility centre established under the Mangad Coir Cluster in Kollam, he said the adoption of cluster approach has given very positive results for the sustainable development of Khadi and Village industries and coir sector.

The centre, he said, had allotted Rs 76.92 lakh for providing forward and backward linkages in the Mangad cluster by way of establishment of the Common Facility Centre, organising market development activities and capacity building.

 

A special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Mangad Coir Cluster Development Society has also been formulated for implementation of various programmes under the project.

About 750,00 coir artisans, 90 per cent of whom are women living below the poverty line, covering 50 out of the 122 primary coir co-operative societies spread over 24 Panchayats in Kollam district, are engaged in processing of coir and allied products under the Mangad Coir Cluster.

It functions under the state government’s Directorate of Coir Development while the Ahmedabad-based Entrepreneur Development Institute of India provides technical support for implementing the cluster activities and the Coir Board serves as a nodal agency.