Export of Coir Ever Time High

KOCHI:
The export of coir products from the country has continued to keep its ever increasing trend both in terms of quantity and value. This is achieved even against the economic recession and the slow down all over the world.
Coir Board chairman C P Radhakrishnan said that the year 2015-16 witnessed the export figures crossing Rs. 1900 crores mark. A total quantity of 752020 MTs of coir goods worth Rs.1,901.62 crores were exported during 2015-16 from our country.
The exports during the immediately preceding year was 626665 MTs of coir goods worth Rs.1,630.00 crores. The increase represents 20% in terms of quantity and 17% in terms of value when compared to the year 2014-15.
While the export of coir fibre from the country to China continued, coir pith, the by-product obtained at the time of fibre extraction, has notched up the top position in terms of quantity by recording an export of 408897 M.T. This represented 54.37% of the total quantity of coir exports. Other products like tufted mat, coir geotextiles, handloom mattings, powerloom mat and coir rugs and carpets showed increasing trend in export.
The country has a vast potential for raw material availability for coir industry. The total production of coconuts in the country is estimated to be 20440 Million nuts in 2014-15. As of now only, 40-45% of its raw material availability is being utilised by the coir industry.
The endeavour of the Board is to enhance the raw material utilisation to a level of 60% of its availability within the next 5 years. With this trend in view, the Board has drawn up several plan programs.
Some of the achievements in the last financial year :
* Units Assisted under Coir Udyami Yojana (CUY)
* Administrative Approval given for setting up of clusters
* Export Market Development Assistance
* Participation in International Fair/Events
* Incubation Centre (start up) sanctioned for Activity 2014-15 2015-16 2015-16 Coir industry , RO,
* Machinery/equipments distributed to the beneficiaries under Mahila Coir Yojana (MCY)
* Export of coir & coir products India International Coir Fair 2016
The Board is organising the conduct of the 4 th edition of the India International Coir Fair at Coimbatore from 15-18th of July, 2016. This event will showcase the versatile capabilities of Indian coir sector and throw the doors of the industry open towards fresh investments and marketing avenues.
The slogan of the event is “Use Coir, Save Nature”. Seminars, Exhibitions, Buyer Seller Meet etc. are also scheduled in this event, in which decision makers from various sectors is expected to participate in addition to the Central Ministers handling connected portfolios.
Future Programmes:
The coir industry has to undergo a paradigm shift towards technology advancements, increasing productivity and improvement in the working conditions. The Board has plans to go ahead with R&D efforts which could provide vital break through towards making this industry able to meet the
challenges thrown in by globalisation and liberalisation. The industry has to transform itself into a position where younger generation is attracted towards entrepreneurship and employment in this sector
The following are some of the other important goals set by the Coir Board.
Doubling the exports from the level of 2014-15 within the next three years.
Setting up of more Common Facility Centres through the Cluster development programmes of the Ministry of MSME.
Setting up of more incubation centres (Start ups) for coir industry.
Promotion of domestic market by appointing Board’s franchisees all over India.
Participation in more exhibitions/product promotion programmes abroad.
Demonstration of field level application of coir geotextiles and coir pith in countries abroad.
Bringing Coir geotextiles, coir pith, coir wood in the schedule of rates of CPWD, NHAI, State PWDs etc.
Promotion of the usage of Coir geotextiles and Coir pith for creation of green cover on top of mine dumps.
Housing facility to coir industrial workers, who live in rented houses, with the co-operation of State Governments
Social security to the coir workers by covering them under all the three Prime Minister’s Social Security Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) with the co-operation of working force.