Property Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Coir came out in full glory at the fair
|
The India International Coir Fair held in Kochi showed the versatility achieved by the coir industry over the years in meeting a spectrum of furnishing needs
|
A view from the exhibition that is being organised in the city as part of the India International Coir Fair-2007. Photo:Vipin Chandran
Coir products look geared to meeting an entire spectrum of décor needs ranging from protecting landscaping outside your house from soil erosion to providing the best business atmosphere in office. The versatility of the humble coir was on display in its full glory at the five-day India International Coir Fair-2007, which ended in Kochi on December 11.
The fair was one of the biggest marketing efforts undertaken on behalf of the Rs. 600-crore coir industry by the Coir Board. Business delegates were surprised by the variety and range of products showcased.
Coir wall linings, doormats, rugs and carpets; wall decorations with coir fibre; coco peat; and flower pots (cocopots, as they are called) with treated coir fibre were among the major attractions.
While coir mats and carpets have come a long way from their initial appearances in single colour, advances in technology have brought about a revolution in their appearance, design and make-up.
Doormats
The doormats, for example, come in a variety of shapes and colours.
There are fibre-inlaid and fibre-printed ones, which provide a burst of colours and motifs for home and office.
Half-moon- and creel-printed doormats are other examples of the versatility achieved by the coir industry over the years. Along with them, rubber-moulded and vinyl-tufted doormats are in great demand these days.
The products on show came in a range of prices, varying across brands.
A fibre-inlaid doormat cost around Rs. 180, while a fibre-printed one came for Rs. 160. A half-moon printed mat cost Rs. 170. Coir geotextiles are priced at Rs. 35 a sq.m.
Experiments with the humble coir pith have helped it achieve an industrial transformation to become a star among items of coir exports.
It is now being used widely as a major soil conditioner and applied for maintaining gardens even in interiors as part of the decorations.
Coir pith
Coir-pith blocks are also available. It is being used as a soil conditioner and soil substitute. Treated coir pith, with its water retention capacity, has been described as one of the best growing media for horticulture and agriculture uses. The blocks are used as potting medium and can be used in developing interior gardens.
K.A. MARTIN, KOCHI
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Property Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
|
