Coir Board has taken steps to explore new dimensions for coir industry through sustained and intense research and development.
For this, experts and visionaries in the field must join hands, Coir Board Chairman G. Balachandran said at a seminar organised as part of the International Coir Expo.
He said that plastic has encroached into the place of coir in many areas. Coir, a natural and eco friendly fibre, has to reclaim its role for which, the wide range of its uses and applications have to be popularised and propagated.
Emphasising the need to modernise and diversify coir products, he said that many new products can materialise and more uses can be identified if coir products can be softened. Cost reduction, diversification of coir products and introduction of new products can come along with large scale mechanisation.
He said that the Board is also looking at making forward planning for semi automation without displacement of labour. Coir composite board can be an apt alternative to wood if further developed and marketed properly. It is not clear why industries and entrepreneurs are not enthusiastic about its manufacture and use, he said.
Composite board and coir ply, with its sturdiness and termite proof properties, can be used for roofing, making doors and windows and furniture. The Board hopes to popularise it to attract serious entrepreneurs for its usage, he said.
Earlier, Harmindar Singh, Commissioner of Industries, Tamil Nadu said that the coir industry is plagued by labour shortage and poor value addition.
Speaking at the seminar, he urged the industry to develop affordable products for the masses. Customer needs should be analysed before launching new products.