Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has called for measures to expand mechanisation process in the coir sector considering its importance, which is huge.

Inaugurating the international coir tech expo here on Sunday, he said that the least interest shown by the State as well as the coir sector for mechanisation in the initial stages had dealt a big blow to the sector. The State had also failed in utilising the coir available locally.

Considering the importance of coir in the State, he said, the government would ensure that the interests of the coir sector and its workers are protected.

Plan allocation

Union Minister of MSME and Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said on the occasion that the Plan allocation for the coir sector was raised from Rs 282 crore in the 11th Plan to Rs 870 crore in 12th Plan. The increase in allocation shows the importance given to the sector, he said, adding that the sector should take care to see that the products are acceptable to people.

Coir exports, which stood at Rs 597 crore five years ago, has doubled, touching Rs 1,052 crore, he added.

The Minister also said that all efforts would be made to help those who had taken loans from banks under the ‘REMOT’ scheme, approved by the MSME Ministry to modernise the coir industry by adopting modern technology in production.

5-day expo

A five-day exhibition of various coir products ranging from coir jackets, umbrella, bags, slippers and ornaments is on.

Delegates from abroad and from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka are participating in the exhibition.

Coir Board chairman G. Balachandran said the expo would showcase latest developments in the industry.

The exhibition is intended to attract the attention of entrepreneurs and industrialists as the sector has to be developed with concerted efforts from multiple sectors.

>sajeevkumar.v@thehindu.co.in

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