Coir Geo-textile gaining popularity: Coir Board Chairman
Bangalore, Nov 1 (UNI) The Coir Geo-textile, developed by Research and Development wing of the Coir Board is gaining popularity in India and abroad, Coir Board Chairman A C Jose said today.
Talking to newsmen here, he said that Coir Geo-textile, which was very effective for controlling soil erosion, had evinced keen interest from the mine owners from South Africa. A delegation recently visited that country and the dialogue is continuing. Since South Africa had large scale diamond mines, this technology would be very useful, he said.
In India also several Mine owners had evinced interest and so far orders worth Rs six lakhs had been received. Konkan Railway had also shown interest in the technology since it could prevent landslide on the tracks during rainy season, he said.
Mr Jose said that another product 'Coir Pith' defibering powder could be used as manure in horticulture and agriculture. A Kuwait company had purchased the technology for US 44,000 Dollar.
He appealed to the Karnataka Government to ban burning of the defibering powder (husk) as it could be put to productive use.
Tamil Nadu had already banned and Andhra Pradesh State was taking steps in this direction, he added.
The Coir Board chief said that the new technology to utilise Coir pith was the result of Research and Development activities undertaken in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
A new technology was developed for composing coir pith to convert it into organic manure.
The country has exported 53,444 tons of Coir pith worth nearly Rs 39 crore last year.
Coir Board was organising a five-day India-International Coir Fair in Kerala from December seven to attract foreign buyers and exhibit value added products.
"It will be a Buyers-Sellers meet. International Seminars on the subject to popularise the technology developed by Research and Development wing would be held," he said.
He said that last year the export of coir products stood at Rs 605 crore and this year the target was fixed at Rs 700 crore. Last year 43 per cent of the export was made to USA and 41 per cent to European countries, he added.
UNI