KOCHI: The year 2009 is being observed as the ‘International Year of Natural Fibre’ by the UNO. For the same reason, the manufacture and export of coir and coir products is gaining prominence like never before.
The Coir Board exports products worth more than Rs 600 crore a year to 105 countries around the world. However, the export to the US witnessed a slight fall last year following the economic recession.
The launch of the new range of products by the Coir Board is thus also an attempt to tide over this dip.
The new range of products includes exotic coir jewellery, coir composite which can replace wood, attractive coir mats, coir pith and other curios. For the designing of jewellery from coir fibre, the Board engaged the services of Verena Schatzlein, a German designer.
The jewellery includes chains, bracelets, bangles, earrings, rings and other items. The ornaments are mostly made from bleached coir fibre, and dyed with natural dyes like red sandal. Different kinds of pearls, crystals, stones and studs have been used to add appeal to the items.
Training was imparted to fifty women coir artisans at the National Coir Training and Design Centre, the training centre of the Coir Board at Kalavoor, under the guidance of the Central Coir Research Institute. Since the women are from the rural sector and from low economic backgrounds, it is also a source of livelihood for them.
The committee formed made a thorough study of the fibre, dyes, pearls and other materials to be used for the manufacture of the products and made them as cost effective as possible. The committee suggested the exhibition of the items in domestic and foreign centres to generate public interest. A proposal was made to impart further training to the women artisans to make them capable of longterm employment in the coir industry.
The Board hopes to market the coir ornaments through tourist departments and jewellers by next month.
kochi@epmltd.com