Coir Board is all set to enter into collaboration with an Australian University and Australian Research Council for research and commercial usage of coir geo textiles developed by India, according to Coir Board Chairman, C P Radhakrishnan.
The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) will be the mediator for the collaborative project planned with University of Wollongong in Australia and Australian Research Council.
“The objective is to ensure extensive usage of coir geo textiles, developed by Central Coir Research Institute (CCRI) at Kalavoor in Kerala, in transport infrastructure in Australia by using it as a bed before the laying of rail tracks and road,” said Radhakrishnan on the new initiatives in the pipeline for promotion of coir geo textiles.
Radhakrishnan further added that, an entry into a strong foreign economy like Australia, would help open new gateways for coir geo textiles to other niche foreign markets.
Official trial
For enhancing coir geo textiles production, the CCRI had just now completed the development of a fully automatic power loom.
“Official trial run is planned within a week’s time,” said Radhakrishnan.
Anita Das, the Director of R& D at CCRI, added that the new appliance, named Anugraha Tejus and the first of its kind in India for coir geo textiles, was capable of producing 800 square meter of coir geo textiles per day in two shifts.
“Till now, a weaving loom earlier developed by the CCRI has been in use which produces only 160 sq m of coir geo textiles per day,” Das added.
The Coir Board would also be promoting coir wood, another value-added product, for furniture production though it has many other uses too.
“We will participate in the biggest furniture fair planned in the United States shortly,” said Radhakrishnan adding that all these efforts eventually improve the economic viability of coconut farmers.
Source: The Hindu
