The Coir Board is also considering subsidising coir geotextiles in a bid to boost its use in protecting river and road embankments, storm water management and various horticultural applications in green houses. In the ensuing demonstrations, the labour cost of geotextile application and its maintenance will be borne by the participating agencies, sources added.

Depending on the viability of the project and capability of the participating agencies, the Coir Board will draw up the subsidy plans while the participating agencies will have to give an undertaking that they will do the necessarydocumentation of project, maintain data regarding soil erosion and geotextile application and submit a well-documented technical paper on the subject.

Coir geotextiles, with its eco-friendliness is a product of the future with great potential for exports to developed countries. At present, there are six companies exporting coir geotextiles listed with the board. Countries like Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and the USA are the major importers of coir geotextiles.

Indian exports in coir geotextiles comprise only two per cent of the international market. Export of this product during the first half of 1998 had jumped by 120 per cent in quantity and 150 per cent in value over the previous year. In July 1998, 77 tonnes of coir geotextiles was exported at Rs 38.55 lakh against 35 tonnes valued at Rs 15.42 in the same month of the previous year. The months April to July 1998 saw an increase in quantity and value of exports at 278 tonnes worth Rs 133.07 lakh against 153 tonnes at Rs 49.63 lakh inthe same period in the previous fiscal.

Meanwhile, efforts are on by the Coir Board to upgrade technology in coir production with the help of a coir technology park.