Shillong: India dominates the global coir market, producing over 80 percent of the world's fibre. Women drive this engine, making up 80 percent of the workforce in extraction and spinning. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises views this sector as a lifeline for rural families, connecting farmers to exporters. Raw coconut husks now morph into high-value goods like mats, ropes, brushes, and green packaging.
Technical progress keeps the industry fresh. The Central Coir Research Institute created coir rail wheel axle packaging cups to replace plastic. Government backing via the Coir Board and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme turns raw fibre into steady paychecks. One standout success is Allam Gowthamy of Kadiyam, Andhra Pradesh. She opened Adigo Coir Products in 2024-25 with a Rs 10 lakh project cost, secured by a Rs 6.50 lakh loan and PMEGP aid. She now pulls in Rs 35 lakh annually. Her shop keeps six women employed while she trains others.
Gowthamy has taught 120 women the trade. Five new local businesses have sprouted because of her work. Meanwhile, in Kozhikode, Kerala, P. Surendran turned waste into profit. He launched Sampoorna Plus Agro Fertiliser Enterprises in November 2024. He uses tech support from the Coir Board and the Central Coir Research Institute to produce bio-fertiliser. His business is growing. He served 500 customers and sold 20 tonnes of product in one year. He cleared Rs 4 lakh in profit for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The ministry notes that such efforts prove how innovation turns limited-value waste into sustainable income. "From coir waste to a sustainable business, his journey shows how innovation and technical support can create new business opportunities from materials that might otherwise have limited economic value," the factsheet states. These entrepreneurs demonstrate the power of local production.
Comments