Technological Modernization and its Challenges in Coir Industry in Alappuzha

Abstract

India  is  the  largest  producer  and  exporter  of  coir  and  coir-related  products  on  the  international market,  with  Kerala  accounting  for  a  significant  portion  of  the  nation’s  production  and  exports.  Despite  its potential and high ambitions, the coir industry in Kerala has not progressed as rapidly as other industries. A primary  reason  for  this  lag  is  the  industry’s  reluctance  to  adopt  automation  in  a  timely  manner.  Toward  the end  of  the  20th  century,  Kerala’s  coir  sector  began  to  modernize  with  the  introduction  of  innovative technologies. However, several factors continue to impede the full completion of this modernization process. The  implementation  of  technological  advancements  has  implications  for  the  industry’s  disempowered workforce,  and  the  success  or  failure  of  these  innovations  plays  a  critical  role  in  the  sector’s  growth  and economic  impact. This  study  examines  various  plans  and  strategies  for  the  development  of  coir,  evaluating the  overall  state  of  technological  modernization  in  the  industry.  It  also  addresses  the  challenges  related  to automation  in  modern  coir  units.  Moreover,  while  both  federal  and  state  governments  offer  a  variety  of programs  to  support  the  coir  industry,  many  manufacturers  remain  unaware  of  these  initiatives.  This  report explores the opportunities and challenges facing Kerala’s coir industry.