The Hindu Business Line : Coir Board to launch entrepreneur development programme in Amalapuram

Agri-Biz & Commodities - Coir
Industry & Economy - Entrepreneurship
States - Andhra Pradesh

Coir Board to launch entrepreneur development programme in Amalapuram

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam , Feb. 21

THE Coir Board, in association with the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, is organising a three-day entrepreneur development programme at S.K.B.R College in Amalapuram in East Godavari from Wednesday, said Mr T.P Padmanabhan, the regional officer. The regional office of the board is situated here.

In a press release issued here on Monday, he urged entrepreneurs to participate in the programme, which would start at 10 a.m tomorrow. "Experts from different fields will brief the entrepreneurs on setting up coir units. There is immense scope for setting up such units in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the coastal districts," he said.

He said 32,900 tonnes of coir was being produced in the State and 41,400 workers, 88 per cent of them women, were getting employment. "With an investment of hardly Rs 5,000, two women can get employment. We are, therefore, trying to train members of self-help groups of women. The banks are also coming forward to finance the units," he said.

He said the Coir Board was offering various subsidies and incentives for setting up the units. "The Coir Board will offer subsidies, subject to a ceiling of Rs 1.5 lakh, for setting up units and Rs 50,000 for buying generator set.

For skill development programmes, too, the board is offering financial assistance. Stipend of Rs 500 per month will be paid to the apprentices and Rs 3,000 a month to the trainer," he said.

He said the board was also offering the spinning machines (costing Rs 10,000) on 75 per cent subsidy. Mr Padmanabhan said the coir workers were being insured against accidental death and the board was paying the premium, subject to a ceiling of Rs 50,000.

He said there were 75 fibre extraction units, 12 automatic yarn spinning units and 22 curled coir (used in mattresses) units in the State, mostly in the two Godavari districts, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.

According to him, it may require roughly Rs 8-10 lakh for setting up a small coir unit, excluding the land cost. An acre of land is needed.

"There has been a boom in the coir sector during the past two years. Coir exports from the country have risen from Rs 352.70 crore in 2002-2003 to Rs 473.40 crore during 2004-2005. Entrepreneurs should cash in on it," he added.

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