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Coir pith exports set to give big boost to industry

KOCHI: Coir pith and coir geotextiles are expected to take the coir industry into a new era of growth, with the Coir Board setting an ambitious target of Rs.15,000 crore in export turnover in the 11th Five-Year Plan. A.C. Jose, chairman of the Coir Board, said coir geotextiles and coir pith received great attention during the five-day India International Coir Fair-2007 that ended here on Tuesday.

He said business delegates from countries such as Russia, Poland and Armenia showed keen interest in trying out coir geotextiles in their countries for various purposes. If the experiments are found successful, coir geotextiles stand to form a major chunk of the coir export basket in the future.

India exported coir and coir products valued at Rs.605 crore in the past financial year. Coir mats, mattings and tufted mats accounted for nearly Rs.500 crore of the export earnings.

Coir pith exports have been growing consistently in the recent years and export earnings from coir pith are around Rs.50 crore. During the past financial year, coir pith exports stood at 67,153 tonnes and coir geotextiles exports at 3,044 tonnes. The importance of coir geotextiles and coir pith has been realised by policymakers, with both the products being included in the list of focus products scheme, along with coir fibre, curled coir, coir yarn, coir cordages and ropes and other sorts of coir.

The role of coir geotextiles in protecting land surface and promoting quick vegetation has been recognised and proven through several experiments in the past. Geotextiles are natural and eco-friendly erosion control blankets in woven and non-woven preparations. Their biggest attraction is that they are totally biodegradable and help soil stabilisation and renewing vegetation in varying slopes.

Coir pith is the spongy material that binds the coconut fibre in the husk. From being a curse in the coir producing areas, it has become a major export product.

Its water retention capacity is what makes it attractive. It is now being treated on a large-scale to turn out soil conditioners.

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