The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Once a waste product, now precious manure

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 02, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Once a waste product, now precious manure

Staff Reporter

Export of coir pith touched 54,000 tonnes in 2005-06

India is the largest producer and exporter of coir products in Asia-Pacific region
Coir ply has emerged as ‘tomorrow’s timber’

BANGALORE: Coir pith, long considered an agro-waste, is now a foreign exchange earner. India exported over 54,000 tonnes, valued at Rs. 39 lakh, during 2005-06, and it is much sought after as organic manure in horticulture and for soil remediation.

A.C. Jose, Chairman, Coir Board and former MP, who was in the city to participate in a workshop for exporters on coir cluster and technology transfer, told presspersons here today that among the 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for 86 per cent of coconut production in the world, India is the largest producer and exporter of coir products. India exports to 97 countries with the highest volume being to the U.S. at 41 per cent. Though Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and, now Vietnam, are primary coir producing countries, India is the leader in value addition. Mr. Jose said the Cochin-based Coir Board has facilitated technology, innovation and marketing strategies to make value-added products ranging from floor coverings, mattresses, coir ply, and geotextiles. “Coir pith is generated in large quantities in major coir production centres. Extraction of one kg of coir fibre will leave 2 kg of coir pith-dust, which till recently was considered a waste product, and left to rot. Now, coir pith is precious manure with applications in soil bio-engineering.

Coir composites or coir ply, has emerged as “tomorrow’s timber”, and is being manufactured by a company in Bangalore, while a Kuwait-based company has bought pith technology for $ 44,000.

Cottage industry

The coir industry is the largest cottage industry in Kerala, employing nearly 6.4 lakh people. Coir has become the eco-friendly option in sectors like mining, manufacturing and construction and development projects. Geotextiles, which are totally biodegradable, are being used to prevent soil erosion and guard against landslides by mines in Bellary, and in the hills of the northeast. Geotextiles have been used by the Konkan Railway to pack the soil in place and prevent sinking during the monsoon. The second edition of the India International Coir Fair is being held at Kochi, from December 7 to 11.

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