Coimbatore, Oct 21: The Central government has drawn up an action plan for developing coir industry in Tamil Nadu, including a Rs 4.14 crore scheme for producing an additional 20,960 tonnes of coir fibre, during the 10th plan period. With Tamil Nadu producing 1,33,000 metric tonnes of coir fibre annually, an average of 60,000 metric tonnes of fibre was being marketed in neighbouring kerala, which was totally dependent on materials from Pollachi and nearby areas, coir board sources said.

Under the scheme, an additional 262 million husks would be mobilised through various women self help groups in the state that has 44 per cent, the highest, husk utilisation, compared to the national average of 35 per cent, they said. The new scheme would generate an additional 12,000 jobs in rural areas, the sources said.

Two clusters would be selected and developed in the state under the 'Swarna Jayanthi Coir cluster Vikas Yojana' scheme, with an outlay of Rs 50 lakh.


Bureau Report