Coir Board was set up under the Coir Industry Act, 1953 by the Government of India for the overall sustainable development of coir industry in the Country.
The functions of the Board as laid down under the Act include undertaking, assisting, and encouraging scientific, technological, and economic research, modernization, quality improvement, human resource development, market promotion, and welfare of all those who are engaged in this industry.
60 years Coir Board
The Head Quarters of the Board is located at Coir House, M.G. Road, Kochi, Kerala, and is running 48 establishments including 29 marketing outlets across the country. For the last more than 60 years Coir Board is steering the industry and the industry today plays a vital role in the economic development of rural areas of the country.
Coir industry was concentrated in the State of Kerala, which has now been proliferated to other parts of the country also, with the efforts taken by the Board.
Coir Board
The functions mandated under the Coir Industry Act are carried out by Coir Board under the various Schemes/Programmes, including research and development activities, training programs, extending financial support for setting up of coir units, domestic as well as export market development, welfare measures to the workers, etc.
The coir industry sustains more than 7 lakhs of coir workers, predominantly women, in different states of the country.
It is estimated that around 80% of the workforce in the industry are women and it plays a vital role in rural women empowerment of many coastal districts of the country.
Rs.7000 cr. Coir exporters
There are 1570 registered coir exporters in the country.
The export of Coir and Coir products from India during the year 2020-21 registered an all-time high record of Rs.3778.98 crores with an increase of over Rs.1021 crores from the previous year. The increase in value works out to 37% in comparison with 2019-20 figures. Coir Board is focused to achieve Rs.7000 crores of coir exports in a couple of years.
Under PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme), Coir Units have been started in different states of the country
Coir Products are eco-friendly and gained “Eco Mark” certification by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. Of India.
Coir products save the environment and help to reverse Global Warming.
“Coir pith” used to save water
“Coir Geotextiles” used to save soil
“Coir Wood” used to save trees and forest
The Board’s Research Institutes are undertaking new R&D projects in coir with various CSIR units and Universities, in the field of spinning and product diversification.
The initiatives of the Coir Board have led to a series of product development and diversification activities that have helped to launch several value-added products, meeting consumer needs. New end-use applications of coir like the use of Coir Geotextiles for preventing soil erosion, conversion of Coir Pith into valuable bio-fertilizer and soil conditioner, and Coir Garden articles have gained popularity in India and abroad.
The growing affinity towards environment-friendly products has helped coir and coir products in domestic as well as foreign markets.
In Gujarat, the Ministry of MSME has sanctioned the following 2 SFURTI clusters with a project outlay of Rs.472.73 lakhs, which will throw open more employment opportunities,
Samavedana Coir Cluster
Tarapur Coir Cluster
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, the Ministry of MSME has sanctioned the 2 SFURTI clusters with a project out the lay of Rs.361.86 lakhs
Pender Coir Cluster
Sawantwadi Coir cluster
As per the vision of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modiji and as per the directives of Minister for MSME, Narayan Tatu Raneji and Minister of State for MSME Bhanu Pratap Singh Vermaji Coir Board proposes to develop coir industry in the Konkan Zone by taking following actions.
The present Sub Regional Office of Coir Board at Sindhudurg is shifted and upgraded to Regional Office at Kudal with sufficient staff strength and office space.
This office will undertake enhanced activities for the development of the coir industry in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa.
For concentrating more developmental activities in Konkan Zone as well as in overall states under the Regional Office.
To act as an exclusive center for extension of services of the Board and an integrated hub for promoting various coir developmental activities such as incubation/skilling, marketing (domestic & export promotions), R&D center, technical assistance, scheme implementation, etc. in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat.
Entrepreneurship Development Programmes
Creating awareness to the coir artisans through Entrepreneurship Development Programmes, awareness programs on various schemes of the Ministry including SFURTI Scheme, Market Development Programmes for strengthening the export sector, etc.
Creation of prospective entrepreneurs utilizing PMEGP and SFURTI schemes of the Ministry of MSME by providing necessary handholding support and financial assistance.
The Centre will have a display/promotional outlet for the sale of the products of trainees and MSME produces from the Coir sector.
Under CVY-Skill Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojana scheme, training will be provided to 600 beneficiaries in various coir processing technologies so that they are enabled to get sustainable employment and revenue generation in the coir sector by availing PMEGP/SFURTI schemes.
Skill training
An Action Plan Target has been fixed for the FY 2021-22 for providing skill training to potential beneficiaries and thereby developing the coir industry in the zone.
Formulation of 5 new coir clusters under SFURTI Scheme with a total financial outlay of Rs.25.00 Cr. for creation of employment opportunities to 1600 coir artisans with top priority.
Setting up of 50 individual units for creation of employment up to 1000 beneficiaries under PMEGP Scheme, primarily focusing on manufacturing of coir fiber and yarn, coir geotextile, coir mats & handicrafts, garden articles, pith block, needled felt, pith manure, etc. with an approximate budget of Rs.5.00 Cr.
A new Coir Board Showroom & Sales Depot to be opened at Pune for exploring huge market potential available in Pune, Alibag, and its suburban cities.
Buyer Seller meeting
Buyer Seller meeting to be organized at Pune and Mumbai.
50 coir exporters to be identified and registered under the Board focusing the ports of Mumbai, Vizag & Kandla for fostering export markets within 3 years. However, the services of existing exporters may also be utilized.
Wide coverage of publicity and extensive awareness campaigns through Doordarshan, FM Radio, Social Media Platforms like Facebook, Youtube, etc.
MSMEs play a vital role in generating employment opportunities and contribute a lot to the socio-economic development of the country. Coir industry is opening up new avenues in the application of its products and is moving to Pan India with the popularisation of the schemes and services available, thereby providing employment opportunities and also the products and their applications.
