July 15, 2020
A total of 988,996 tonnes of coir and coir products were exported in the 2019-20 period.
Value-added items such as tufted mats contributed to 33% of the total volume of exports.
The major ports of coir and coir products exports include Chennai, Cochin, and Tuticorin.
Rs.5 million was also allocated by the Ministry of MSMEs to aid the coir industry in India.
Data for the 2019-20 period reveals that coir exports stood at a record high of Rs.27.6 billion, as against the previous year’s export volume of Rs.27.3 billion. A total of 988,996 tonnes of coir and coir products were exported in the 2019-20 period. Coir pith and coir fibre fetched earnings of Rs.13.5 billion and Rs.5 billion, respectively. Value-added items such as tufted mats contributed to 33 per cent of the total volume of exports.
The major ports of exports include Chennai, Cochin, and Tuticorin, minor quantities of exports are also known to be conducted through the Kannur, Raxaul, and Coimbatore ports. Furthermore, trends also reveal that there is an increased preference for coir products within the domestic market.
The coir industry in India has been receiving support from the domestic ecosystem through multiple initiatives by the Government of India. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) recently facilitated the signing of an MoU between IIT Madras and the Coir Board to promote the use of Coir Geo Textiles (CGT) and conduct research on the utility of coir by itself or in combination with other types of natural fibre.
A sum of Rs.50 million has been allocated by the Ministry to aid the creation and operation of a Centre of Excellence focused on finding appropriate technological solutions to aid production and marketing mechanisms. The Centre is to also configure intellectual property rights for the coir industry in addition to taking up research activities. One of the research-led innovations spearheaded by the Coir Board includes the use of coir inlining embankments such as soil erosion if effectively prevented. Multiple uses of natural fibres have also been derived through their use in road paving and the protection of river resources.
The Government of India introduced the Coir Udyami Yojana: a scheme that is to be managed by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The Yojana will accommodate end-to-end facilities for supply chain management, worker welfare, and the upliftment of connected ecosystems. With continued support from the Government of India, the coir industry can continue to expect exponential growth in the years to come.