The Hindu Business Line : `Coir pith potential not fully exploited'

COIR pith, so far considered useless waste, has now acquired tremendous export potential with more value addition because of its use as soil conditioner and an effective medium for plant growth.

Currently, Sri Lanka has a monopoly on the supply of coir pith to the global market. Currently, India has also entered the market and the export of this product, which was less than Rs 1 crore in 1997-98, has now touched almost Rs 15 crore in 2002-03.

The steady increase in the export indicates a fast expanding export market for coir pith.

Initially if its export was directed to less than 10 countries, during the last fiscal 40 countries spread over different regions in the world imported coir pith from India, according to Mr Sivadas Menon, Managing Director, Sterling Farm Research and Services.

His company has developed a product called Neopeat, using coir pith, which is marketed in India and abroad.

Most exports from India are in compressed form without any value addition. In fact, coir pith gets converted into value-added end-products by multi-national companies in countries like Holland for re-export, Mr Menon said.

The world production of coir at current level is estimated at three lakh tonnes. Some six lakh tonnes of coir pith is produced along with coir fibre in countries such as India.

According to Mr Menon, coir pith processors were experiencing a lot of difficulties.

They are finding it difficult to compete with Sri Lanka because of high incidence of ocean freight from India to various destinations on the landed cost of the commodity.

Besides, the sector lacks well-equipped laboratories and qualified personnel to undertake research on diversification of pith-based product and to ensure quality control in general.

Also, the industry has not exploited the adequate potential that exists for this product for farming in the domestic market.