Coir Board chairman V S Vijayaraghavan on Friday called for collective efforts by the coir industry and the Kerala government to enhance coconut husk procurement. He said this was essential as a longterm solution to the problem of acute fibre shortage in the state, given the growing demand for environment-friendly coir products across the world.
Speaking at the valedictory function of the five-day Coir Fest-2010 at Alappuzha, he offered all assistance from the Coir Board in solving the raw material shortage.
The fibre-based units are reeling under severe shortage and high prices of coconut husk. Huge quantities of husk available in the Malabar region, which accounts for 60 per cent of the state’s coconut production, was being procured by exporters from Tamil Nadu. They export substantial quantities of fibre and coir pith, particularly to China, resulting in cost escalation and shortage of raw materials even in the home district of coir products, Alappuzha.
The remedy for this problem has to be found within the state, Vijayaraghavan said, pointing out that Kerala now had to depend on Tamil Nadu for procuring coconut husk in bulk quantities. He handed over documents of mobile defibering machines, marking the distribution by the state government to small-scale coir manufacturers, at subsidized rate.
