Coir panel moots massive mechanisation

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Coir Commission has recommended a huge outlay for coir development and a massive programme of mechanisation to boost production and productivity.

The commission, headed by CPI (M) MLA Anathalavattom Anandan, in its report presented to the government on Friday, suggested an outlay of Rs.450 crore for implementing a rehabilitation programme over a period of four years.

It suggested three special programmes for procuring husk involving husk agents, besides setting up husk procurement cooperatives and a procurement consortium. It also recommended an annual outlay of Rs.13.77 crore for husk procurement, including a subsidy component.

The commission said 100 defibreing units would be set up using the beater technology both in the private and cooperative sector. It suggested an outlay of Rs.18.80 crore for this scheme, under which the private sector would be eligible for 50 per cent subsidy and the cooperative sector 75 per cent subsidy.

It also suggested installing 10,500 automatic spinning machines in the private and cooperative sector to replace the current traditional ratts to boost productivity. It wanted the government to promote three types of fibering methods, including the traditional one. It earmarked an outlay of Rs.15 crore for this under a special package. It also recommended modernisation of looms to reduce the skulduggery of workers.

Another major recommendation is to revamp coir cooperatives to improve their efficiency and expand operations. The commission also recommended several welfare measures for employees.

It also recommended setting up of coir machinery manufacturing facilities, including maintenance and repair at a cost of Rs.30 crore.

The commission recommended an Apex Body for Coir (ABC) for the comprehensive growth of the sector. The ABC will be modelled after the Planning Board, with the Minister as chairman and an expert as vice-chairman. The ABC will be entrusted with the task of issuing guidelines and overseeing the implementation of government policies. The report was presented to Coir Minister G. Sudhakaran.

Coir exporters bank on strong dollar to recover past losses

Financial Express

18 Sept. 2008

 

Coir exporters are banking on the strengthening of the dollar to recoup losses suffered in the recent past, traders say. Coir exports have suffered loss due to the slow down in European and US economies and are reporting a decline in the past few months. With the Indian Rupee weakening against the dollar, exporters see an opportunity in pruning the rates and regaining the losses, Coir Shippers Council Secretary KC Eapen told FE.

 

During the last FY, the coir sector suffered reverses due to the strengthening of the Indian Rupee and incremental coir exports were carried out at declining unit value. While volume of exports increased by 10.5% during 2007-08, when compared with the previous FY, value dropped by 2.7%. "Rupee has come down by almost Rs 6-8 when compared to the same period last year. This should help exporters in bringing more volumes," Eapen said. He added that India has a monopoly in the export of coir and with the only deciding factor being rates, the declining rupee opens new markets for exporters.

 

As per the provisional figures of the Coir Board, export of coir and coir products dropped by 23.12 % during August alone, while value showed a decline of 15.91%. However, the cumulative exports for the current FY (April-August) show an increase in volume and value of 6.9% and 7.56% respectively.

 

Coir mats, pith, yarn and fibre are showing a declining trend while rugs and carpets recorded an incredible increase of 300 % in volume terms during the period. Traders also fear that export to China may suffer in the coming days with consumption slowing down there post Olympics.

Kerala's coir exports caught in a tug of war over prices

Economic Times

17 Sept. 2008

 

KOCHI: Coir export from India is likely to be hit with the coir yarn producers and dealers in Kerala stopping the supply demanding higher price from exporters. With the exporters in the state, which is the major producer of coir products in the country, being in no mood to relent, the situation is heading towards a stalemate.

 

According to Kerala Coir Yarn Producers and Dealers Association, the rise in price of brown fibre and transportation charges have increased the cost of production. Association secretary Sibi said the cost of brown fibre has risen from Rs 300 to Rs 360 per kg.

 

Most of the brown fibres come from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu. The truck rates for transportation have increased to Rs 5,550 from Rs 4,800 after the hike in diesel price.

 

Mr Sibi said last year the producers got a price range Rs 24.50 to Rs 26.50 per kg. But this year it has come down further.

 

"We need to get around Rs 26.50 per kg to carry on our business," he said. The global situation has also turned advantageous for the exporters with the recent depreciation of rupee, he added.

 

The exporters, however, said prices have not stabilised globally and as a result they were yet to be on a firm footing. "The rupee depreciation is limited only to the dollar. It has appreciated against the euro and the pound," Mr Ponnambalam, former president of the Indian Coir Exporters Association, said.

 

The exporters are eyeing at other southern states for preparing coir products. It would also save the cost as Pollachi is already a main centre for the production of the brown fibre. Coir spinning has caught on well in other southern states, they said.

 

In 2007-08, the value of coir exports from the country had dropped to Rs 593 crore from a level of Rs 605 crore in the previous year mainly due to appreciation of the rupee. 

 

coir peat-free compost

Pocket Garden has launched a silver birch tree version of its easy-grow packaged plants. The bag is designed to be given as a gift to offset carbon use and is emblazoned with the message "Grow me and help save the planet by offsetting your carbon footprint". The company claims that once the tree has matured it can offset 12kg of C02 or 20 per cent of the average person's annual carbon usage and can provide enough oxygen for a family of four.

The bags contain coir peat-free compost, which is certified by the Soil Association, and a packet of seeds. To grow the tree the seeds must be planted and watered and placed in the refrigerator for eight weeks to replicate winter. After this they must be removed and stored at room temperature to replicate spring. Once the sapling grows to between 18 inches and 24 inches it can be planted outdoors, provided the year's last frost has past. It can be planted in its bag as it is 100 per cent biodegradable.

The trees have a recommended retail price of £5.99 and will hit the shops in three or four weeks. Pocket garden says it was keen to expand its range and find a new way to provide easy-grow plants that was even more environmentally friendly. The range of carbon offsetting gifts is expected to be expanded at a later date.

The original Pocket Garden range includes Organic Herbs, Plants and Occasions flowers.

Kurl-on wins Coir Industry Awards for 07-08

Kurl-on, the country's No.1 brand in the mattress industry has been bestowed with 4 award by the nation's coir board in recognition for their exemplary contribution and achievement in this industry. The company would dominate the award function by bagging the awards in 4 different categories namely

 

•  Export Performance in Rubberised Coir  Products
•  Achievements in Domestic Market Development Rubbersied Coir Product
•  Best State Level  Export Performance in Coir & Coir Products from Karnataka
• Largest Domestic Trader of Coir & Coir Products for the year 2007-08 

Kurl-on will be conferred the award at a scintillating function in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 30th August 2008. The award will be received by Mr.Sudhakar Pai, Chairman & Managing Director Kurl-on. Noteworthy to say, that the company has been consistently receiving this award from the past fifteen years for their contribution in the coir industry.

 

While speaking about Kurl-on's selection for the award, Mr Sudhakar Pai, Chairman and Managing Director, Kurl-on said, "We are extremely elated to have won these awards in 4 different categories. It's a great honour to receive such prestigious awards. I dedicate this award to my entire team in Kurl-on who have put in their heart and soul to build the company as the market leaders."

 

Kurl-on Ltd. is the brand leader in the industry and has acquired major market share in the branded mattresses segment. The brand is also expanding its horizons in the extremely rich home furnishings segment. According to Mr. Sivaram,  Chief Marketing Officer, Kurl-on, "In order to give its expanding activities a definite direction and a wider dimension, the company is aggressively marketing bed linen, bath linen, curtains and upholsteries other than dining, bedroom and drawing room Furniture & Furnishings. The wide range of product range offerings are steering the company towards 'Home Comfort' business from the 'Sleep Comfort' business" 

Design Notes: Dorm decor, flip-flop coir doormats

Design Notes: Dorm decor, flip-flop coir doormats

Compiled by Home & Style Editor Susan Martin from News and wire sources

 

 

Decor lessons: The back-to-dorm catalogs are arriving, but you do not have to be a college student to pick up some cool stuff for your own home.

 

Many of these items are well-suited to kids', tweens' and teens' living spaces. And adults may find a funky floor lamp or throw rug they can't resist, as well. Plus, coordination is such a breeze.

 

Among the pickings from retailers such as JCPenney, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens 'nThings and others: butterfly chairs, colorful comforters, fleece throws, body pillows, desk chairs, storage bins, pop-up hampers, desk organizers, inexpensive bookshelves and more.

 

Recycled and rugged

 

You've probably seen those coir doormats with cute flip-flop designs printed on them. But imagine a durable mat actually made from flip-flops – or the material left over during their production.

 

We spotted both mats and storage bins in the Viva Terra catalog of eco-living products, but similar products are available elsewhere. The recycled items are made from colorful factory remnants left over once the foot bed has been stamped, according to the catalog.

 

The mats, priced $29 to $89, come in three sizes –plus a 22-by-60 inch runner, above. The bins come in sets of two, $135 per pair, with the largest measuring 23 inches wide and 14 inches high. Good for storing boots, kids' stuff and, of course, flip-flops.

 

3,000 small farmers in Kerala have turned to organic farming on coir geotextiles.

More than 3,000 small and marginal farmers in Kerala have turned to organic farming and are growing coconuts, bananas and intercrops such as pepper, nutmeg and arecanut, assured of a ready market.

 

Organic farming does not use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, instead it relies on crop rotation, green manure, biological pest control and genetically modified seeds.

Eco-friendly: Creepers are grown on coir geotextiles called eco-fences, which are stretched and fixed on posts. Sevashram, a voluntary organization that has helped convert more than 500 acres of land at Angamaly near the Kochi international airport to organic farming, buys the produce that the farmers want to sell. It often pays more than the market price.

 

"It involves the whole cycle, from production to consumption, so every village involved can be self-sufficient," said K. Mampilly, a priest who started Sevashram. "All the money is generated by farmers and the benefits are shared among them," he said.

Sevashram now plans to popularize the concept in neighbouring Thrissur, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts, where it has set up 10 groups, each involving 150 farmers.

 

"We have a cluster system and each cluster has about 300 farmers managing coconut centres called kera kendras, which are essentially agri clinics-cum-business centres," Mampilly said. Each centre, in turn, serves several self-help support groups.

The farmers, who are members of the support groups, learn to grow farm products organically and sell whatever surplus they have after consumption to consumers in neighbouring districts. To train farmers and also help them sell, Sevashram engages retired officials and experts from the agriculture department, as well as certification agencies such as Indocert to inspect the produce.

 

M. Ousephachan, a farmer in Angamaly , said Sevashram buys coconuts grown on his four-acre plot at prices above market rates.

 

Sevashram even supplies him manure and sells the produce it buys from him at stores called 'eco-parlours'.

 

"I have been getting better yield (since converting to organic farming)," he added.

"About 200 families that have one to two acres of land have come together as a self-help group and we have stopped using chemical fertilizers and pesticides," said Bindu Paul, a farmer in Moolapura village who joined the scheme two months ago.

 

After 13 years in the field, last year, Sevashram promoted a public limited company, Swasraya Organic Products Ltd. The company is in early talks with a South Korean firm to sell sulphur-free coconut oil, under the brand 'Kerasyam'. Sevashram has also promoted the concept of 'eco-fence' where coir-based textiles are stretched and creeper plants are grown on them to form a thick fence.