Commodity Online
KOCHI: Coir Board and  Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises will conduct a study on problems facing the traditional coir industry in Alapuzha district in Kerala.

The focus of the study will be on small scale coir product manufacturing sSector of the traditional coir industry in the Cherthala and Ambalapuzha taluks of the district.

A reputed agency will be entrusted with the task. The study will include the existing functioning of the units, the fund flow requirements, marketing linkages, the workers’ welfare and working environment.

Small scale manufacturing which is the backbone of the traditional coir sector in Kerala is facing problems of old, outdated and unproductive machinery, working environment, lack of orders, primary fund flow and realization of fair prices.

The crisis is prevalent in this area for the past two years. Due to paucity of work, there has been reports that the workers engaged in the small scale product manufacturing sector have been migrating to other greener pastures as the sector was unable to provide regular employment as well as decent wages.

Coir Board’s Rejuventation, Modernisation and Technology Upgradation of Coir industry scheme with a total plan outlay of Rs.243 crore is aimed at creating value added products.

It envisages rejuvenating the existing units engaged in the production of intermediaries for value added export oriented product manufacturing units by extending 40% Government grant on the total unit outlay of Rs.5 lakhs provided by the financial institutions.

The Board has taken initiative by providing grant to 190 spinning units and 160 tiny/household units in Kerala for the year 2007-08 with a total outlay of Rs.11.8 crores.

The Scheme is to provide assistance for upgrading the infrastructural facilities of these units to enhancing their productivity and the profitability of the units for earning better wages structure for the workers engaged in this sector.

A C Jose, Chairman, Coir Board said that the existing Schemes available with the Board will be modified based on the study so as to protect the interest of the Small Scale producers.

The study will also focus on the impact of the new Scheme initiated by the Board for the benefit of the sector.