The Hindu : Kerala News : Minister calls for investments in coir sector in State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Minister calls for investments in coir sector in State

Staff Reporter

Says investments will carry attractive benefits

Appeal to Coir Board to set up coconut complex at Pollachi
State drawing up exclusive policy for micro, small and medium enterprises

KOCHI: Tamil Nadu Minister for Rural Industries Pongalur Palanisamy has called for investments in the coir industry in the State where raw material for the industry were abundantly available and investments would carry attractive benefits and concessions from the Government.

Inaugurating an international seminar on coir at the ongoing India International Coir Fair-2007 on Sunday, the Minister said Tamil Nadu was in the process of drawing up an exclusive policy for micro, small and medium enterprises in the State.

Coir Board had already come forward to set up Integrated Coir Development Project at a cost of Rs. 4 crore and to promote six coir clusters at Sivagnga, Periyakulam, Salem, Vellore, Pattukottai and Cuddalore at a cost of Rs.7 crore.

The Minister appealed to the Coir Board for setting up a coconut complex at Pollachi and to allocate sufficient funds for the industry, which had tremendous potential.

Quality testing centre

The Minister also said the Coir Board could consider setting up a quality testing and Research and Development Centre for brown coir fibre at Thanjavur.

The State had 72 coir industrial cooperatives and four coir sales societies, which were doing business to the tune of Rs.10 crore annually. He said the coir industry provided employment to about 75,000 people in Tamil Nadu.

Coconut husks

The State topped the country in utilisation of coconut husks.

The Minister said the Euriophite Mite attack had resulted in 25 per cent loss of coconut production and that the Coir Board and Coconut Development Board should allocate sizable funds for research to find a remedy to the problem.

More than 100 foreign and 100 domestic delegates participated in the India International Coir Fair 2007, at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on Sunday.

N. R. Pai, Chairman, Seminar Committee, welcomed the gathering. A.C. Jose, Chairman of Coir Board, delivered the presidential address. Shesh Kumar Pulipaka, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, delivered the keynote address and M. Kumaaswamy Pillai, Member Secretary, Coir Board, proposed a vote of thanks.

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