MSME Minister Narayan Rane twitted the achievements of coir production in India. The tweet read, “MSME Coir Board has given a new identity to the products made from coconut. Indian Coir products are now being exported to 110 countries of the world. With the participation of 80 % of women workers, the rural economy is getting strengthened”, said Rane.
Coir products are eco-friendly, along with the Prime Minister’s vision for Local for Global.
As product coir has immense potential to boost exports and imports, create diversified and innovative products and the growth of MSME based industries who work with COIR are directly interlinked.
What is Coir?
It is a material found in nature; a hearty by product of coconuts produced in abundance by coconut palms.
It is the naturally occurring fibrous material found on the outside of coconut husks that is naturally processed for use.
Coir has been used for centuries by navigators in rope form for rigging and ship cables.
Today, coir is used to create an assortment of products, from rugs and doormats to plant pots and hanging basket liners, to cultivation-enhancing gardening material and blankets used for erosion control. Some potting mix products also include coir.
Global share in COIR production
India accounts to more than 80% of global share in coir production providing employment to nearly lakhs of people.
A total quantity of 1163213 MT of coir and coir products valued at Rs.3778.98 crores was exported from the country during the year 2020-21 as against the export of 988996 MT valued at Rs.2757.90 cores during the previous year.
During the year April 2020-21, 106 countries imported coir and coir products from India. USA topped the importing countries with 31.1% in value and 19.1% in quantity.
China is the second largest importer of Indian coir products with a share of 20.7% in value and 34.8% in quantity. The other countries, which imported substantial quantities of coir and coir products during the year under report, were Netherlands, South Korea, UK, Spain, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Canada.
Ecofriendly products:
Coir Products are eco-friendly in nature 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. New end use applications of coir like the use of Coir Geotextiles for preventing soil erosion, conversion of Coir Pith into a valuable bio- fertilizer and soil conditioner and Coir Garden articles have gained popularity in India and abroad.
Coir Geotextile is naturally resistant to rot, mold and moisture, and free from any microbial attack hence it needs no chemical treatment.
Coir Udyami Yojana:
Coir Udyami Yojana is a credit linked subsidy scheme for setting up of coir units with project cost up to Rs.10 lakhs plus one cycle of working capital, which shall not exceed 25% of the project cost. The scheme is being implemented by the Coir Board.