However, Coir Board sources expect to meet the target of Rs 350 crore this fiscal. Over the nine months this fiscal, 48,547 tonne of coir products have been exported, compared to 44,431 tonne during the corresponding period last year. Translated into rupee terms, the exports this year has been Rs 226.27 crore, compared to Rs 220.52 crore. Doormats continued to have a major share in the export basket this year too, with a rise of Rs 2.78 crore.

However, it was coir yarn which registered a decent rise in export, worth Rs 5.77 crore. Coir piths too, registered an increase of nearly Rs 2 crore. But for these, there was a fall in export of all other items. Coir mattings dropped by Rs 2.56 crore, rugs and carpets by Rs 2.76 and geo-textiles by Rs Rs 1.46 crore. The fall in exports of mattings both in quantity and value-terms was attributed to the synthetic products flooding the markets.

The Coir Board has firmed up plans to boost exports, and see that the target of Rs 350 crore set for this fiscal is met. It is expected that the next three months will be favourable and should help meet the target. The Board is organising a `Coir Fair 2001' in Delhi from February 28 to March 3, and expects this event to give the necessary boost for sales and exports, the sources added.