Tamil Nadu to tap more export potential of Coir

Chennai, Aug 20 (UNI) Coir pith and fibre export is the potential resource of export by the industries in Tamil Nadu and the Coir Board had initiated a net work with Middle East countries to export coir pith to the tune of 300 containers every month mostly from Tamil Nadu, according to Coir Board Chairman A C Jose.

An official release here said Mr Jose met Tamil Nadu Industries and Electricity Minister Arcot Veerasmy and briefed about various developmental activities undertaken by the board to develop coir industries in the state.

Mr Jose said the new exports would increase additional employment in coir clusters and the pith export would go up to Rs 100 crore from the present Rs 40 crore.

He said the board had already cleared six clusters in Tamil Nadu under the scheme for Regeneration of Traditional Industries.

Though Tamil Nadu was the second largest producer of coconut and coir in the country, the absence of organised collection mechanism had tampered the easy availability of husk produced in other regions for coir industries.

He said mobilisation and transportation of husk from available regions to fibre extraction units located at distant places require high transportation costs making the operation quite uneconomical.

Mr Jose also appealed to the Minister to restrict the use of coconut husk as commercial fuel in the power captive electricity generation plants and other similar industires there by making it available to the coir industry.

UNI AJ VV 1930