India's Coir Industry & Rural MSME Expansion

Coconut husk, once treated as agricultural waste, is emerging as a driver of rural enterprise, employment, and sustainable livelihoods across India’s coconut-growing regions. Coir, a durable and eco-friendly natural fiber, is increasingly used in mats, ropes, handicrafts, bio-fertilizers, and sustainable packaging. Supported by the Ministry of MSME through the Coir Board and PMEGP, the sector is promoting self-employment and women-led enterprises. A notable example is Ms. Allam Gowthamy, who established Adigo Coir Products in Andhra Pradesh in 2024–25 with a ₹10 lakh project cost, supported by a ₹6.50 lakh PMEGP-assisted loan. Producing doormats, ropes, and handicrafts, the enterprise generates ₹35 lakh in annual turnover, employs six women, and has trained nearly 120 women in coir processing. The sector is also embracing circular-economy solutions. In Kerala, Mr. P. Surendran launched Sampoorna Plus Agro Fertilizer Enterprises in November 2024 to produce coir-pith bio-fertilizer with technical support from CCRI. In FY2024–25, it sold over 20 tonnes to 500+ customers, generating ₹13 lakh turnover and ₹4 lakh profit. India remains the world’s largest coir producer, accounting for over 80% of global fiber output, with women comprising nearly 80% of the extraction and spinning workforce. Through initiatives such as the Coir Vikas Yojana, the Coir Board continues to support skills, research, markets, and innovative applications, strengthening coir’s role in rural industrialization and sustainable manufacturing.