changeadminProducts made from coir, such as mats, mattresses, ropes, brushes, and other utility items, are part of everyday life in many Indian households.
India’s coir sector is a vibrant, eco-friendly and sustainable driver of economic and social progress. The country is the world’s largest producer and exporter of coir, blending tradition with innovation.
With its strong focus on sustainability, value addition, and inclusive growth, India’s coir sector is expected to play a crucial role in the journey towards sustainable development.
What is coir?
Coir is a natural, fibrous material extracted from the outer, tough husk of coconuts. These natural fibres are processed and transformed into a wide range of commercial products.
There are three types of coir: brown coir comes from ripe, mature coconuts; white coir comes from unripe, green coconuts soaked for longer periods; and coco pith is the residue left over during fibre extraction.
Making coir products not only promotes the productive use of coconut husks but also generates livelihoods and supports the growth of rural and traditional communities.
Coir sector in India
India’s coir sector is one of the oldest and most traditional industries, representing an eco-friendly manufacturing sector that extracts, processes, and converts coconut husk fibres into value-added products.
Apart from a huge domestic market, India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of coir and coir products, accounting for about two-thirds of global production.
The Indian Coir industry has a turnover of approximately ₹16,000 crore, with significant contribution coming from exports.
In FY 2025-26, India’s exports of coir and coir products were valued at ₹6,614.40 crore, which has more than quadrupled from ₹1,630.33 crore in FY 2014-15, a 305.70% increase.
India exports coir pith, fibre, yarn, and tufted mats as its major coir products, with the US, China, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK as the major destinations.
The Indian Coir Sector has more than 21,000 coir units employing 2.3 lakh people and providing indirect employment to many others.
Government’s Support to the Coir Sector
India’s Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) runs a central sector scheme, “Coir Vikas Yojana (CVY)”, to promote the sustainable development and growth of the Coir Sector and support coir artisans and the coir industry.
Complementary initiatives like the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) actively provide subsidies to rural entrepreneurs setting up coir spinning and weaving micro-enterprises.
The Coir Vikas Yojana scheme focuses on developing new technologies, machines, and products for the coir industry. It has developed more than 150 innovative machines, technologies, and value-added coir products for the coir sector.
It also conducts skill training and promotional programmes, with over 68,000 persons trained under various training programmes, with more than 80% being women.
Through the scheme, the Ministry also promotes sales of coir and coir products in domestic and international markets and creates awareness through publicity activities and participation in trade fairs, expos, etc.
It has facilitated participation of more than 1,000 exporters in International Exhibitions abroad, 1,400+ promotional programmes, and 950+ exhibitions participated in across India.
It has provided financial assistance of more than ₹20 crores to more than 850 entrepreneurs under the Export Market Promotion scheme.
Several successful and inspiring stories have emerged from the work done under the Coir Vikas Yojana scheme.
In Kozhikode, Surendran P of Sampoorna Plus Agro Fertiliser Enterprises received technical guidance from the Coir Board in Kannur and the Central Coir Research Institute (CCRI) in Kalavoor.
The training focused on demonstrations and awareness sessions on producing and effectively utilising coir pith bio-fertiliser. Within one year, Surendran’s enterprise has built a customer base of more than 500 customers.
The unit has also recorded impressive sales of more than 20 tonnes of coir pith bio-fertiliser. The enterprise currently employs 5 workers, including 2 women workers.
In East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Allam Gowthamy underwent training at the Coir Board Training Centre five years ago. Motivated by the technical guidance and financial assistance, she established her own enterprise, Adigo Coir Products.
Today, the unit has achieved an annual turnover of approximately ₹35 lakh and generates an annual profit of around ₹10 lakh. The enterprise has also created employment for six women.
She is also actively conducting training programmes with support from the Coir Board Regional Office, Rajahmundry, and Mandal Parishad authorities, and nearly 120 women have been trained in coir mat weaving, rope making, and handicraft production.
G. Sabu from Alappuzha, Kerala, started the Coir spinning unit in 2024 under the PMEGP scheme through the Coir Board Regional Office, Kalavoor.
Within two years, the unit achieved steady production of coir yarn and rope, supplying local coir societies and manufacturers in Alappuzha.
The enterprise directly employed 8–10 local workers, predominantly women from nearby villages. Monthly turnover increased substantially, giving the entrepreneur a stable income and providing regular wages for employees.
Wrapping Up
These stories show how India’s coir sector drives sustainable development and exemplifies a “waste-to-wealth” circular economy model, converting agricultural coconut residues into high-value commercial goods.
Furthermore, the sector is a major lifeline for India’s rural economy, providing direct and indirect employment to over 7 lakh (700,000) workers, especially in coconut-producing states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
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