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In-built mechanism in production cycle vital -- `Coir industry must upgrade quality'

Our Bureau

KOCHI, May 28

INTRODUCTION of in-built mechanisms in the production cycle of coir products is necessary for maintenance and upgradation of the quality of coir yarn and coir products to meet the needs of the quality conscious consumers.

Consumers all over the world have become more and more selective in the purchase of their requirements of items of all types for specific end uses, particularly consumer products which included coir products. Therefore, it had become imperative for the i ndustry to focus on research for diversified products development and at the same time it should improve and upgrade the quality of products so as to remain competitive in the global market, a Coir Board source said.

To cultivate and retain the interest of consumers in coir products, it was essential to ensure that items of specified standards of quality were produced and marketed. ``It is necessary to introduce in-built mechanisms in the production cycle in the diff erent facets of extraction of coir fibre, spinning coir yarn and manufacture of coir products'', he said.

The techniques of production currently followed in the coir sector had limitations in this matter. In the spinning sector, the treadle ratt, motorised ratt and mechanised spinning units developed by the Central Coir Research Institute or other establishm ents provided certain measures of in-built controls for ensuring quality of yarn.

However, for attaining consistency in the quality of coir yarn within the reasonable limits of tolerance and satisfactory levels of output, these required to be developed further with necessary modifications, he said. ``This is an area which calls for re search on priority''.

Co-operation of coir units with their involvement for conducting field-level experiments in collaboration with research institutions for identification and overcoming the technical limitations/deficiencies of the equipment would contribute to accelerate the pace of development.

The co-operative research proposed for the yarn sector required to be extended to cover the product sector also for evolving improved techniques/equipment for spooling, warping, beaming and development of handlooms/powerlooms. This could regulate and con trol the quality of the woven products by the provision of in-built mechanisms in the equipment/processing techniques, for achieving quality control in the coir industry, he said.

The Coir Board for the promotion of quality standards with the involvement of its research institute and coir mark inspection division had already stipulated the precautions to be taken by processors in the coir extraction and spinning sectors for produc ing coir fibre/coir yarn of acceptable standards of quality, the official said.

Besides, with a view to reducing the quality complaints and further quality upgradation, the points of action in the different sectors of processing had been brought to the attention of the artisans engaged in coir extraction, spinning and manufacturing sectors through the extension services of the Board.