TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES

Kerala is well known for its traditional industries. These industries include coir, cashew, handlooms, handicrafts and bamboo. The traditional industries are one of the major sectors, which give employment to more than 1 million people in Kerala

Coir Industry in Kerala

Coir industry is second to agriculture as a source of employment in Kerala, providing employment to 3.83 lakh persons, of whom 3.25 lakh are women. With 10.05 lakh hectares having coconut cultivation in Kerala, this accounts for 45% of the net cropped area. The coconut out put is estimated at 5759 million nuts annually.

A Major Traditional Industry in the State

Concentration of Coir Industry in the State

Alapuzha
Kayamkulam
Chirayinkeezhu
Kollam
North Parur
Trichur
Kozhikode
Kannur
Ponnani
Vaikom

Varieties of coir yarn produced

Ashtamudi
Anjengo
Mangadan
Artary
Vaikom
Koilandy
Arror Sp
Muppine
Rope Yarn

Varieties of Coir products produced & exported.

Matts
Mattings
Rubberised Coir products
Mattresses
Pillows
Cushion
Coir Geo Textiles
Tuffes Mats
Coir pith
Rugs
Carpets
Curled Coir

Provides employment to more than 4 lakhs people of which 84% are women.

State production caters 90% of domestic consumption and 95% Export from the country

Export Figures as on 1999 – 2000 (in MT)

1. Coir Mats 27,433

2. Coir Matting 6,221

3. Coir and Carpets 2,700

4. Geo textiles 1,621

5. Curled Coir 689

6. Rubberised Coir 489

7. Coir Pith 5,675

8. Coir Other Sort 1,213

Total Exports of Coir products stood at 58,947 MT as on 1999-2000

Statistics of Coir Co-operative Sector

524 primary yarn producing societies

10 small scale producers co-op. Societies

72 Mechanised coir co-op. Societies

Production of Coir products stood at 15,560 MT, as on 1999 – 2000

COIR DIRECTORATE

Cater to the needs of Co-op. Societies in the following ways:

For marketing their products.

To improve those quality of products by providing technical guidance.

Provides financial assistance

Project offices functioning under Coir Directorate

1. Chirayinkeezhu
2. Kollam
3. Kayamkulam
4. Alapuzha
5. Vaikom
6. North Parur
7. Trichur
8. Ponnani
9. Kozhikode
10. Kannur

Major schemes implemented by the Department

Integrated coir Development Projects

For the Modernisation and Mechanisation of the Industries to improve quality and quantity
To provide better environment to workers
For better wages

Revitalisation of sick and dormant societies.

To increase production by reviving sick and dormant societies.

To improve production and to provide more employment.

Market Development assistance

To sell the products of primaries, Govt. provides incentives by way of market development assistance
As rebate, discount etc.

¨Welfare Schemes

Govt. contributes to Coir Workers Welfare Fund Board for providing the following welfare measures

Pension of coir workers

Educational assistance to the worker’s children

Marriage assistance

Geriatric Centres etc.

Projects under implementation

Geo-Textiles Development Programme
Rs. 865 lakhs investment for popularisation of Geo-Textiles

To improve the utility of coir yarn by way of diversification.

To prevent soil erosion.

To protect roads, rails, canal embankment for construction of roads.

For prevention of sea erosion and other related application

The Scheme will be implemented by the Department of Coir Development through Coirfed and Coir corporation.

This project proposes to implement.

1. 50 pilot projects through local bodies

2. 20 state wide projects with the help of NGOs

3. 10 projects under various development Department

4. 10 National Level projects

5. 10 projects with the help of exporters.

6. 50 Geo-Textile production units

1. COIR PARK AT ALAPUZHA

COIR PARK – A
Cherthala Taluk, Alapuzha District

Extent - 23.40 Acres

Area Allotted - 21.15 Acres to 14 entrepreneurs

Investment expected

By entrepreneurs - 9.5 Crores

Extnet - 17.06 Acres

Area Allotted - 17.06 Acres

Alottee - 4 Govt. undertakings

Investment expected - 15 crore

2. HIGH TECH COIR PARK AT PERUMON – KOLLAM

Expected project cost - Rs. 17.08 Crores

To be implemented with the assistance of State, Central and National Financing Institutions

Proposed to be implemented with Centre for Development of Coir Technology (DOCT) Trivandrum

This High Tech Park provides a meeting ground for scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs with universities, research establishments, manufacturing units.

Expected to open – up possibilities to develop a wide range of eco-friendly products based on coconut fibre.

OTHER GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS

COIRFED

Apex Federation of 600 old Primary Co-op., Societies

4 Regional offiers

Over 100 large showroom network all over India.

Largest suppliers of coir yarn, mats and mattings, rubbeerised coir products

R & D Wing undertakes, research on various applications of coir yarn and mized coir yarn with rubber.

COIR CORPORATION

Fully Govt. owned organisation
Undertakes marketing of products of unorgansied sector.
R & D on Geo – textiles applications, popularization of geo-Textiles

FOAM MATTINGS (India) Ltd.

Govt. of Kerala Undertaking
Engaged in the production of rubbersied coir
Products and marketing, export.

COIR BOARD

A Central Govt. organisation for the entire development of coir sector
Research Centre at Kalaroor does various research activities in coir and coir based products.
Pith plus & Coir RECT are the latest development made in the coir sector for reducing the retting time & for giving golden colour to the green husk fibre.
Contact Address
Director of Coir Development
Nandavanam
Palayam
Thiruvananthapuram –33
Phone No: 0471-322046
Fax No: 0471-322046



HANDLOOM


Kerala's Balaramapuram handloom sarees are well known for its simplicity, exquisite design and beauty. These traditional handloom saris are made out of the finest cotton yarn with intricate designs of golden jerry. Balaramapuram is also famous for its fine dothis and its traditional neryathu and the set mundu.

Kannur handloom shirting, furnishing materials etc. occupies an important place among handloom fabrics of India. Kasaragod sarees are famous for it's color, design and quality.
Different types of ready made garments, dress materials and fine furnishings are being exported to various countries.
This sector provides employment to more than two lakh people directly and indirectly.
Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram district Kannur Palakkad, Kollam and Ernakulam are the main places where handloom concentration is high.
Hantex and Hanveev are the Govt. institutions to help weavers in co operative sector as well as in the un organised sector for procuring and marketing their products through their well established showroom through out Kerala.
A lot of research work has been carried out to improve the quality and productivity at

Institute of Handloom Textile Technology, Kannur.

Institute of handloom and Textile Technology, Government of Kerala, Kannur, Kerala

The Institute of Handloom and Technology, (IHTT) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Industries, Government of Kerala. IHTT is the nodal agency in the state for training, research and development in the handloom and textile sector that imparts need- based training in weaving, dyeing, designing, and printing in cotton and silk. The institute organizes Entrepreneurship Development Programmes, Management Orientation Programmes, Demonstration Programmes on Ecofriendly Dyes, Tapestry etc. Apart from training programmes, seminars and workshops for the development of skilled personnel are organized in the handloom and textile sector including garment manufacturing and fashion technology. Lab facilities exist for testing various parameters on yarn, fabric & dyed samples for BIS and other standards.



HANDICRAFTS

Kerala's traditional handicrafts varieties are a class of its own. The artisans of Kerala carves in wood, design in jewellery and makes idols in metal. The gifted artisans makes beautiful idols of Lord Krishna, Ganesh, Goddess Saraswathi, Lakshmi etc. in sandal wood ,elephants in rose wood and other art works in varieties of other woods.

The life size models of kathakali and the models depicting boat race of Kerala are Kerala's own master pieces. The idols of Lord Nataraja in dancing pose and the various lamps (vilakku) which are very essential for every ceremonies of malayalees.

Aranmula kannadi is another traditional art work in bell metal. The artisans of Kerala are at their best in making screwpine woven articles, beautiful lamp shades and other articles from bamboo reeds.

A variety of products ranging from buttons to flower vase out of coconut shell. Kora mats are very popular and is used for prayer and sleep.

Articles made out of buffalo horn and kathakali masks, straw pictures etcare some of the popular items of Kerala. Handicrafts based on various kinds of wood, coconut, palm etc. are major attractions.

The State agencies for the development of handicrafts industry include Handicrafts Co-operative Apex Society (SURABHI), Artisans Development Corporation, Bamboo Corporation and Handicrafts Development Corporation.

Handicrafts Heritage Kerala, handicrafts celebration week, is being conducted every year from December 7 to 15

                                                                                                                          more