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Our Bureau

Kochi , May 4

THE Central Coir Research Institute (CCRI) of the Coir Board has won an award from the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) for developing an improved mild steel handloom `Anugraha' for weaving coir geo-textiles.

According to Mr C. Chandran, the cost of the new loom is Rs 5,000 against Rs 30,000 for the traditional handlooms. "One woman worker can conveniently operate the loom in place of two healthy male workers on the traditional handloom."

Besides, the steel loom occupies only a space of two square meters as against six square metres required for a traditional handloom, he said. It would be able to produce 80 square metres of coir geo-textiles per shift of eight hours by a woman as against a production of 60 square metres per shift by two male workers in the traditional handloom, he added.

The world requirement of coir geo-textiles is estimated at 1,400 million square metres, of which the share of the Coir Board is only around 2 per cent. "There is large potential for enhancing share of coir geo-textiles to at least 10 per cent, provided it is supplied in a cost effective manner," Mr Chandran said.

At present, it is woven on traditional wooden handlooms by male workers and the weaving involved drudgery due to the strain in operation of the looms.

More Stories on : Textile Machinery | Kerala | Handloom

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