Andaman has good prospect for coir industry: Coir Board

Port Blair, Jun 29 (UNI) The Coir Board has found that the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold out good prospect for setting up coir industry as coconuts are grown in this archipelago aplenty.

The Coir Board, with the help of the administration and other agencies, will see that such industry flourishes here like in other places in mainland, generating employment and thus solving the livelihood issues, said Mr AC Jose, former MP and Chairman of Coir Board.

He was speaking at a national seminar on 'Development of Coir Industry in A&N Islands' here yesterday.

Inaugurating the seminar, Mr Jose said lakhs of people were engaged in the industry, most of them women. The Board has 26 cluster development programmes of which one, with a fund of nearly Rs 86 lakhs, has been allotted to A&N administration. It will be started in Middle and North Andaman, he added.

Referring to his visit to Car Nicobar, the CB Chairman regretted that the initiatives taken by the tribal people in setting up coir units were shattered by the tsunami. He informed that he also met three tribals who were imparted training earlier for setting up small units and assured them that the Board will provide all necessary help in re-starting their units.

He also requested the administration to provide transport subsidy to the entrepreneurs intending to set up coir industry in these Islands.

UNI