The Hindu Business Line : It's advantage coir

THE growing shift in world markets towards natural products, towards eco-friendly bio-degradable items, has placed coir and coir products in an advantageous position.

The increase in Indian exports of coir and coir products in recent years is a pointer, say industry watchers.Demand has grown, especially for coir mats and coir pith in world markets. This has pushed up the total exports of coir and coir products in the last fiscal to an all-time high of Rs 460.63 crore, surpassing the set target of Rs 450 crore.

Shipments of coir mats alone stood at 56,531 tonnes, valued at Rs 346.85 crore, during the last fiscal as against 49,103 tonnes worth Rs 291.65 crore in the previous financial year. In the absence of an effective substitute for coir mats, the demand for it is rising, worldover, says a senior Coir Board official.

Coir pith was once considered as waste and the disposal of mounds of it was a serious problem. Now, however, it has found a good market overseas. In the last fiscal, 40,027 tonnes of coir pith, valued at Rs 28.34 crore, were exported as against 29,179 tonnes worth Rs 19.76 crore in 2003-04. Growing awareness of coir pith's role as an alternative for recycling in the farming system has pushed up its demand.

Incorporating coir pith improves the structure and physical properties of soil, says the official.The advantage of coir pith is that it absorbs water in the range of 400 - 600 per cent its weight and releases it into the soil very slowly. Besides, applying 10 tonnes of coir pith per hectare is effective against saline and alkaline reactions of soil. It is abundantly available as it forms 70 per cent of the weight of the coconut husk.

The rise in coir pith exports has proved that promotional activities have yielded positive results, he says. Coir pith is now extensively used in horticultural operations and in the manufacture of manure. The Netherlands has become a major importer of coir pith, mainly for value addition and re-exporting. Other key importers are Australia, the UK, the US, and New Zealand.

In 2004-05, 1,17,495 tonnes of coir and coir products, valued at Rs 460.63 crore, were exported as against 1,02,253 tonnes worth Rs 407.50 crore in 2003-04, an increase of Rs 53.13 crore.

Coir geo-textiles have some way to go, however. Lack of awareness of its advantages, on the one hand, and the strong lobby for geo-synthetic products, on the other, has made its market penetration difficult.

There is scope for using coir products in sound-proof systems in buildings. It can also be blended with other natural fibres for use in the automotive and other sectors, says Dr P. Rethinam, Executive Director, APCC, Jakarta.

With more scientific and aggressive promotional spurs, the exports of coir geo-textiles can be increased substantially.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Contract farming of herbal plants picking up in Salem

Tyre producers may import 70,000 t rubber

Rubber down on panic selling

Thailand rubber body sees stable price trend

Pepper prices dip marginally

Trading on a growth platform

It's advantage coir

Much to this nut