Coir Board to help develop husk sector in Ivory Coast

The Coir Board will assist Ivory Coast to develop coconut fibre-based industries and impart training and technical assistance for the production of various coconut husk-based products.

This was decided in a meeting between A C Jose, chairman, Coir Board and Ivory Coast's five-member delegation.

Top officials of the Coir Board said that India and Ivory Coast would soon sign a MoU for technical support in developing coir-based industries. Government of Ivory Coast will formally approach government of India and the National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC) and then the MoU would be signed accordingly. The Coir Board and Coconut Development Board will send a team of experts to Ivory Coast for feasibility survey.

According to a senior officer of the Coir Board the team would study the harvesting pattern, size of the nut and yield per tree, dehusking pattern, possibility of setting up of coir fibre extraction units, marketing outlets in the country, possibility of using coir as a geotextile, possibility of use of coir pith for agri-horti purposes and socio- economic condition of artisans in the coconut producing centres.

After the survey the board will prepare an action plan with financial outlay for the development of the coir industry in Ivory Coast. The Coir Board has also agreed in principle to set up an incubation centre for training entrepreneurs.

Board sources said that Ivory Coast had 30,000-hectare coconut plantation with around 300-million nut annual production. There is a potential for producing 12,000 tonne coir fibre and this offered opportunity to set up 60 units which in turn can produce 120 value added products.

Technical personnels from the Coir Board and Coconut Development Board will be deputed for the establishment of incubation Center.

A delegation, which includes Yeo Guefala, Koudu Diakouey, Zakpa Dago Alain, Bouedy Ahouty Philippe -Auguste Desire and Bossey Gerard, has visited various coir factories in Kerala. An agreement will be arrived between India and Ivory Coast once the delegation submit its report to the government of Ivory Coast.