The Kerala government has chalked out a slew of measures to breathe life into the dying coir industry, which directly employs over one lakh people in the State.
For the first time, the State would make a concerted attempt to tap to the domestic market in the country for coir-based products.
“We have already drawn up plans to select 500 franchisees all over the country for which expression of interest has been invited. Selected franchisees will be given ₹10 lakh each as a one-time grant,” Kumar, who was here to participate in a meeting with prospective buyers of coir products.
Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, who is also the Minister for Coir, said recently that the Left Democratic government had decided to spend ₹1,000 crore over the next five years to develop the coir sector.
Marketing corporation A decision has been taken to set up a marketing corporation exclusively for coir, said Kumar. “The corporation, which is still awaiting the Cabinet nod, will be a unique one as it will allow minority stake for private coir export firms, he said.
Private exporters are big players in the coir market as they account for most of ₹1,000 crore export business.
To address the shortage of coir fibre, the government plans to popularise eco-friendly defibering machines, which can help make fibres without resorting to the polluting rutting process.
Defibering plant “In July this year, we have given a women’s help group in Kannur district a pilot micro defibering plant, which can handle 8,000 coconut husks a day. We would like to evaluate its performance, before they are distributed widely,” he said.
While cooperatives and SHGs will get these machines costing between ₹3-4 lakh free of cost, others can get them at a 50 per cent subsidy, Kumar said.