The Hindu Business Line : TN offers good scope for coir industry: Minister

The Tamil Nadu Minister for Rural Industries, Mr Pongalur Palaniswamy, watches a coir worker at her job at a demo organised at the venue of the ongoing India International Coir Fair in Kochi.

Our Bureau

Kochi, Dec. 9 More than 100 foreign delegates and 100 domestic delegates attended the third day of the India International Coir Fair 2007 held at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi.

Inaugurating the seminar, Mr Pongalur N. Palanisamy, Minister for Rural Industries, Tamil Nadu, said coir industry in Tamil Nadu has larger scope due to abundant availability of raw material, particularly brown fibre. The export of coir pith is also gaining momentum in the State and the Coir Board should consider extending transport subsidy for pith exporting units, he said.

The Minister also requested investors to consider Tamil Nadu for setting up coir units as the proposed SME policy of the Government features attractive benefits and concessions.

The Coir Board, he said, had already implemented Integrated Coir Development Project (ICDP) at a cost of Rs 4 crore and to promote six clusters in the State at Sivaganga, Periyakulam, Salem, Vellore, Pattukottai and Cuddalore at a cost of Rs 7 crore. He requested the Board to consider implementing bigger schemes for the State such as setting up a coconut complex at Pollachi, as Tamil Nadu has immense potential for growth in coir sector.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the leading States in coir production. Of the 20 lakh hectares under coconut cultivation in the country, Kerala constitutes 9 lakh hectares and Tamil Nadu 5 lakh hectares. However, in terms of production of brown fibre and percentage of husk cultivation, Tamil Nadu tops the country, he said.

The Minister pointed out that the eriophyid mite is affecting coconut production, which had dropped 25 per cent as a result. He urged the Coir Board and Coconut Development Board to allot sizeable fund to undertake research to eradicate the mite completely.

In the session on marketing, Mr Anandakuttan B. Unnithan of IIM-K-Kozhikode spoke on ‘Marketing of Coir – The Intangibles’. He pointed out that coir is eco friendly, ethnic, fashionable and can be used as a furnishing product. The Coir Board should initiate steps to create intangibility and value addition for coir, he added.

Mr Ram Venu Prasad, Secretary General, Commonwealth Secretariat, London spoke on ‘Business Potential for Indian Coir in the Commonwealth Countries’.

The Revi Karunakaran Memorial Lecture on ‘Global Scenario of Coir Industry — Risk and Threat, Analysis and Opportunities’ will be presented on Monday by Mr Anwar Ul Hoda, Member, Planning Commission.