The Hindu Business Line : Coir Board to take up study of small-scale sector

Kochi, April 1 Coir Board is to conduct a study on the state of affairs of the small scale coir product manufacturing sector of the traditional coir industry in the Cherthala and Ambalapuzha taluks of Alappuzha district in the State.

The study will be entrusted to a well-experienced reputed agency and it is proposed to be completed within 45 days.

The study will include the existing functioning of the units, the fund flow requirements, marketing linkages, the workers’ welfare, working environment etc.

Mr A.C. Jose, Chairman, Coir Board, said that the small scale product manufacturing sector, which is the backbone of the traditional coir sector in the district, is facing various problems of old, outdated and unproductive machinery, working environment, lack of orders, primary fund flow and realisation of fair prices in the last two years.

Due to paucity of work, workers have reportedly been migrating to greener pastures as the sector was unable to provide regular employment as well as decent wages.

Schemes undertaken

The Board has been conducting various programmes for uplifting of the sector by modernising it under a new scheme called the Rejuvenation, Modernisation and Technology Upgradation of Coir industry with a total plan outlay of Rs 243 crore.

The Scheme envisages rejuvenating the existing units engaged in the production of intermediaries for value-added export-oriented product manufacturing units by extending 40 per cent Government grant on the total unit outlay of Rs 5 lakh provided by financial institutions.

The Board has taken the initiative by providing grant to 190 spinning units and 160 tiny/household units for the year 2007-08 with a total outlay of Rs 11.8 crore.

The scheme is to provide assistance for upgrading the infrastructural facilities of these units to enhancing their productivity and the profitability of the units for earning better wages structure for the workers engaged in this sector, he said.

The Chairman said that the existing schemes available would be modified based on the study so as to protect the interest of the small scale producers.

The study would also focus on the impact of the new scheme initiated by the Board for the benefit of the sector, he added.

More Stories on : Coir | SSI | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
NMCE launches new futures series in metals

Rousing wet session over N-E region

‘Agri-business will have to rise to global challenges’

Kochi rubber trade plea on excess tax, refund

Spot rubber prices improve

HC issues interim order on sugar mills’ plea over UP cane price

Coir Board to take up study of small-scale sector

‘Edible oil import duty cuts, a temporary step’

Pepper futures decline

Rising ‘political risk’ to commodity derivatives market

Gold prices collapse on profit taking

Firm trend seen in global wool prices