Coir units in Pollachi are confident of more than doubling their annual exports, provided the Union Government support them in some important areas.
S. Mahesh Kumar, director of Federation of Indian Coir Exporters’ Association, told The Hindu on Wednesday that 90 per cent of the country’s coir fibre and coir pith exports were from Tamil Nadu.
China was the major buyer of coir fibre, and the U.S. coir pith.
The domestic demand for coir compost was growing with better awareness on kitchen gardening.
Export of coir fibre in the last fiscal was 26 per cent higher than in 2013-2014.
The export of coir pith grew 16.5 per cent in the last fiscal.
In term of value, the growth of coir fibre exports was 27.5 per cent, and that of coir pith 26.7 per cent.
The nearly 600 coir-related units in Pollachi, and nearby areas have the potential to increase the annual exports to Rs. 1,000 crore from the current Rs. 425 crore, he said.
Usually, there was a 5 per cent growth in the coconut plantations in Pollachi.
This year, the husk availability had improved and prices had declined. The export demand was good for coir products.
Unseasonal rain in May have hit drying of coir pith. Hence, there was a shortage in availability of the pith and prices have also shot up. Nearly 10,000 workers were involved in the drying activity in the coir units in the district, he said.
“Every one has orders. But, we are unable to supply. The industry will have a future only if there is machinery for such requirements.”
Though mechanisation is higher in the coir fibre industry, there should be drying machinery.
The Coir Board should involve institutions and agencies and take up research and development for this purpose.
It should support the agencies with funds to develop the required machinery.
Industry representatives have submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises during his visit to Coimbatore. The government should create an awareness in the domestic market about the use of coir compost, he said.
Drying machinery needed
Awareness should be created on use of coir compost
