Machinery for instant extraction of coir fibre developed

Kochi: A mobile machinery for instant extraction of coir fibre from green husk has been developed by the Coir
Board's Central Coir Research Institute,thus paving the way for higher utilisation of coir fibre in Kerala, besides
considerably reducing its cost.

Intended to revolutionise the highly labour intensive and export oriented industry, the machinery underwent successful
trial run before a large gathering, including Board members, exporters and other stake holders of the industry at the
institute premises yesterday, a Coir Board press release said.

Board Chairman, V S Vijayaraghavan, who inaugurated the trial run, said its commercialization was bound to
revolutionise the industry already affected by shortage coupled with mountingcost of fibre,arising out of the
non-availability of adequate quantities of green husks in Tamil Nadu and unprecedented export of coir fibre to China.

Vijayaraghavan said the new machinery would be a boon to the industry which was facing shortage of manpower due to its
comparatively low wage structure. The equipment would be subjected to extensive field trials before its commercial
launch, he added.

Institute director Dr U S Sarma said the new defibering process considerably reduced the fibre cost from rs 15 to Rs 9
per kg. It could also be easily transported to rural areas.

The CCRI has also developed a new technology for speedier processing of the brown fibres within four hours by spraying
an eco-friendly conditioner on the fibre to make it softer and spinnable.PTI