The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises highlights the transformation of coir from traditional coconut husk material into a modern catalyst for rural entrepreneurship, women's empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods across India's coconut-growing regions. India is the world's largest producer of coir, accounting for more than 80% of global coir fiber production, with the industry historically beginning organized production in 1859 with the first coir factory in Alappuzha, Kerala.
The sector demonstrates significant women participation, with women accounting for nearly 80% of those engaged in fiber extraction and spinning activities. The Coir Board, a statutory body under the Ministry of MSME, supports the sector through Coir Vikas Yojana (CVY) which encompasses technology and research, skill development, women's training, domestic and international market promotion, industry development, and worker welfare initiatives.
Two success stories illustrate the sector's impact: In Kadiyam, East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Ms. Allam Gowthamy established Adigo Coir Products in 2024-25 with a project cost of ₹10 lakh supported by a ₹6.50 lakh bank loan and PMEGP assistance. Her enterprise now produces eco-friendly doormats, ropes, decorative dolls, and handicrafts, achieving an annual turnover of approximately ₹35 lakh and profit of around ₹10 lakh while generating direct employment for six women. Additionally, she has trained nearly 120 women in coir mat weaving, rope making, and handicraft production, inspiring around five additional coir units in nearby areas through the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme.
In Kozhikode, Kerala, Shri P. Surendran established Sampoorna Plus Agro Fertilizer Enterprises (SAFE) in November 2024, producing eco-friendly coir pith bio-fertilizer that improves soil fertility and moisture retention. Within one year, his enterprise built a customer base of 500+, sold over 20 tonnes of bio-fertilizer, and generated a turnover of ₹13 lakh with profit of ₹4 lakh in FY 2024-25, while employing five workers including two women.
The coir value chain extends from raw fiber to diverse value-added products including mats and doormats, ropes and yarn, brushes, decorative items, horticulture products, and innovative eco-friendly packaging solutions. The Central Coir Research Institute has developed eco-friendly coir rail wheel axle packaging cups as an alternative to HDPE plastic cups, demonstrating innovation in traditional materials. Through exhibitions, fairs, showrooms, and export promotion activities, coir producers are accessing larger markets and transforming locally available resources into modern entrepreneurial opportunities.