The National Coir Research Management Institute (NCRMI) has
released an indigenously-developed portable machine that can cut down labour costs.
The new fibre extractor isolates high-quality fibre from coconut husk at lower cost and labour than conventional technology. “The newer and sturdier version comes with a built-in crusher that processes full green and dry husk, completely eliminating the labour-intensive step of manually breaking down the husk into smaller pieces. It also reduces breakage, yielding longer fibres,” says Adoor Prakash, Kerala’s minister for revenue and coir who commissioned the new machine on Thursday.
“The move to improve productivity and production would be a fillip to the industry, right on the eve of the customary international trade fair on coir in Alapuzha, where hundreds of international and domestic buyers inspect the business-readiness of the industry,” Prakash adds.
The new machine is primarily designed for women who constitute more that 80% of the coir industry workforce.
The FEE 6.0C2 comes with built-in safety features and has been designed to minimise physical stress on the user.
In 2012-13, export of coir products was valued around Rs 1,152 crore.
This was about 10% higher than the Rs 1,052-crore coir exports in the previous year.
