Brand Building of Kerala Coir

NCRMI designed a brand logo of coir and coir products for Kerala to improve the size of market in both international and domestic arena. The Brand logo was unveiled by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala on Jan 26th, 2007 at VJT Hall, Trivandrum. NCRMI implemented brand building programme for Coir and Coir products from Kerala along with its quality assessment and acquired the brand name and logo - “Kerala Coir - Golden Yarn of Gods Own Country” under Trade mark certification (No.1560984, 1545286, 1545285 & 1560895). Coir Trade Mark are obtained for fibre, ropes, strings, nets, cords, twines, carpets, mats, mattings, rugs and geo textiles.

Development of Digital Coir Runnage Meter

Digital Coir Runnage Meter is an accurate, easy-to-use, low maintenance testing instrument used to determine the runnage of coir yarn. It is a table top, portable and easy to handle instrument dedicated to find the accuracy in runnage. The runnage of coir yarn is displayed in a character LCD display mounted over the instrument with a pre-programmed microcontroller and an optical encoder giving all the necessary information needed at a glance.  The runnage of a coir yarn can be measured in less than a minute in this exclusive instrument.

Key Features

• Highly accurate
• Identify runnage in wide ranges
• Portable & Elite design
• Easy operation
• Character LCD display for result and any other information
• Less than 1 minute to find runnage
• Single operator

Specifications

• Dimension – 70cm X 45cm X 32cm
• Weight – 14 Kg
• Power – 20 W
• Voltage – 230 V AC
• Speed – 60 rpm
• Display – 6 digit
• Measurement Accuracy - +/- 1%
• Reset – Push button
• Belt – Synchronous belts
• User interface – Membrane keypad

Organizing Coir Kerala International Exhibition

Coir Kerala Exhibition, the biggest international expo on coir and allied natural fibres had been professionally organized nine editions of this annual event at EMS Stadium, Alappuzha, since its first version during 2011. NCRMI acted as the organizing agency  for six editions and coordinated three editions of this magnanimous event wherein 140 odd international buyers from 70 countries participated in each episode along with 100 odd domestic stakeholders. Coir Kerala exhibition centre is encompassed with the most modern International pavilion accommodating theme based stalls showcasing the coir product and its applications with unique facilities for one-to-one discussions. International & National Level Seminars, Buyer-Seller Meets, Road Shows, and Domestic Exhibitions are the standalone features of the event. This expo has been marked as the most sought after event in the calendar of International exhibitions across the globe.

Coir Kerala Gallery

Coir Kerala Gallery

Evaluating productivtiy of Automatic spinning machines previously installed in Kannur project area

NCRMI was entrusted with the activity of evaluating the Automatic spinning machines installed in various coir cooperative socieities installed in Kannur project area. The productivity of ASM’s in various coir cooperative societies was studied due to low productivity.
NCRMI has successfully submitted a report to Governement regarding productivty of the ASM’s in Kannur project area.

Price Fixation of different varieties of coir yarn based on productivity

A Committee was constituted by the Govt. vide G.O. (Rt.) No. 12/2019/ID dtd.05.01.2019 for fixing the price of different varieties of coir yarn.
The Committee members were -
The President, Coirfed - Chairman
The Director of Coir Development Department -Convenor or Representative of DCD
The Chairman, Kerala State Coir Corporation (KSCC)
The Chairman, Kerala State Coir Workers Welfare Fund Board (KSCWWFB)
Sri. A.K. Rajan, Ex-Chairman, KSCWWFB
Sri. Saji Kumar S.L., Executive Member of Coirfed
Sri. Manganthara Devan, Board Member, Coirfed Sri. P.K. Appukuttan, Keasava Nilayam, Udayanapuram, Vaikom-686143
The Director, NCRMI
The Managing Director, Coirfed
The Managing Director, Kerala State Coir Corporation

NCRMI was entrusted to carry out the Price fixing of different varieties of coir yarn based on productivity with the Committee members. The study was conducted in all major yarn producing project areas. The varieties of coir yarn for which price fixation based on productivity was assessed are Vycome coir yarn, Aratory coir yarn, Mangadan Coir yarn, Angengo Coir Yarn, Vettoor Coir yarn, Paravoor special coir yarn, Carnatic C1 coir yarn, Beypore coir yarn, Quilandy coir yarn, Muppiri coir yarn.
The study was conducted in the month of November 2019 at coir cooperative societies under all project offices. The study was considered based on technical as well as social issues related with the production of coir yarn to access the cost of production of yarn in different project areas.

Productivity study and cost analysis of ASM

Govt. of Kerala decided to provide 2000 numbers of Automatic Spinning Machine to 200 numbers of Coir Vyavasaya Co operative Societies spread over 10 coir project areas of Kerala. It was necessary to access the production capacity of the machine to finalise the remuneration pattern of the coir workers deployed on the machines. The Hon'ble Minister for Finance & Coir conducted a meeting with Central Trade Unions (Coir) on 24.02.2020 at Alappuzha to study the productivity of Automatic Spinning Machine in various coir co-operative societies in Kerala and to fix the price of coir yarn produced through Automatic spinning machine.
A Committee was constituted by the Director of Coir Development to study the productivity coir yarn being produced on Automatic Spinning machine manufactured by Kerala State Coir Machine Manufacturing Company in different project areas of Kerala. The committee also studied the effect of deployment of ASM on cost of coir yarn as well as remuneration pattern of the coir workers.

Committee members were:
1. Sri. N Sai Kumar, President, Coirfed- Chairman
2. Dr. Anil K R, Director, NCRMI - Convener
3. Sri. K K Ganesan, Chairman, KSCWWEB
4. Sri. S Rajendran, INTUC
5. Sri. S Prakasan, AITUC
6. Sri. C S Ramesan, UTUC
7. Sri. A N Pankajakshan, BMS
8. Sri. Salimbabu, TUCI
9. Sri. K P Manoharan, AITUC
10. CMD representative

NCRMI was entrusted to carry out the Productivity Study and Cost Analysis of Automatic Spinning Machine with the Committee members. The study was conducted in the month of October 2020 in all major yarn producing societies under different Coir project areas.

Productivity study of different types of Automatic spinning machines

NCRMI was entrusted with the activity of study of productivity of various types of Automatic spinning machines present in the industry. The major players being – M/s KSCMMC, M/s Sukumar Engineers, M/s 2M Engineers. The above 3 machines were procured and installed at NCRMI machine shop for productivity study.
The productivity of each machine was calcuted with same type of coir fibre used for all the machines and same workers working for all the machines for 8 hours.
The productivtiy study of major available varities of Automatic spinning machine was submitted to Government.

Productivity study on different varieties of coir yarn

A Committee was constituted by Apex Body for Coir to study the productivity of various types of prominent yarn being produced in different project areas of Kerala. Committee members were:
1. Sri. N Sai Kumar, President, Coirfed
2. Sri. T K Deva Kumar, Chairman, KSCC
3. Sri. K K Ganesan, Chairman, KSCWWFB
4. Sri. Ramesh B, Additional Director, DCD
5. Dr. Anil K R, Director, NCRMI – Convener

Committee visited various project areas and first hand information from the field was collected by conducting field studies. Studies were conducted mainly on following varieties of coir yarn:
1. Anjengo - Chirayinkil project area
2. Vettor - Chirayinkil project area
3. Mangadan - Kollam Project area
4. Paravoor Anjengo - Kollam Project area
5. Aratory - Kayamkulam Project area
6. Vycome - Kayamkulam, Alappuzha & Vaikom Project area
7. Carnatic yarn (C1)
8. Paravoor special - North Paravoor & Thrissur Proiect area
9. KMRY - Kozhikode Project area
10. Quilandy (hand spun) - Kozhikode Project area
11. Ratta Quilandy (Electronic ratt + Traditional ratt) - Kozhikode Project area
12. Beypore (hand spun) - Kozhikode Project area

NCRMI was entrusted to carry out the Productivity Study of different varieties of coir yarn with the Committee members. NCRMI along with the committee members visited all the selected coir cooperative societies. The productivity of different varieties of coir yarn was measured in both length and in weight which was further classified based on their runnage. The study was conducted in the month of June 2019.

Workshop on Frame mats

NCRMI has conducted a workshop for Master trainers with the help of experts from NIFT and COIRBOARD. This was a refreshment workshop to induce more technical/marketing inputs to the course module of NCRMI training to develop more aesthetic and economical products during the training program. Thus the marketing of the products that are produced by women workers of coir cooperative societies can be easily marketed by the societies.

Sponsored Live Workshop in association with E&Y & VSDF

NCRMI in association with M/s Ernst & Young GDS & M/s Viswa Santhi Development Foundation is organizing a live workshop “Threads of Sustainablity – Coir Products making initiative”. The association is aimed at creating an impactful program for a common cause – to “care for the Mother Nature” by raising the slogan GO GREEN.

The project is devised to join hands with the young generation techies of Ernst & Young (EY) for the making of E-coir bag (2000 Nos) and coir frame mats (150 Nos.) like Corridor Mats, Mesh Mats, Round Mats & Sinnet Mats. The event was attended by approximately 2000 volunteers of M/s EYGDS. Venues were E & Y GDS campuses at Trivandrum & Kochi along with NCRMI campus. The live workshop was conducted from 27th to 30th November and 4th to 5th December 2023.

Workshop on setting up of private DF mills for prospective entrepreneurs

As part of its 2nd reorganization movement has paved way for the mechanization and in-turn modernization of the coir industry. Another main goal of the movement is to make the State self sufficient in raw material requirements. Interested Entrepreneurs from all over Kerala were shortlisted and were invited for the workshop after preliminary screening by respective project offices under Coir Development Department. Around 150 selected participants were invited for the workshop and were present for the workshop. Apart from Interested entrepreneurs there were Coir Department Officials, representatives from District Industries centre, Kerala State Electricity Board officials, Staffs from Pollution Control Board, Officials from LSGD, Kerala Financial Corporation officials and officers from various PSU’s.

Workshop on 2^nd Reorganization of Coir Sector in Kerala

NCRMI in association with Coir Development Department has conducted a Workshop on “2^nd reorganization of coir sector in Kerala” from 04.04.2018 to 05.04.2018. The 2 day workshop program included study and interaction of the present status of the actions taken as part of the reorganization movement and the problems and issues formed during the progress of the mission. The training session was inaugurated by Sri. N Padmakumar IAS, Director, Directorate of Coir Development. The workshop was an interactive session exploring the new issues developed and throwing light on to the newest hurdles in the implementation of the reorganization movement and finding their solutions from within. The workshop was a fruitful study of the Reorganization of the Coir Industry and bringing insight to the industry by self assessment by various project offices & PSU’s and ways for their self development owing to the reorganization. A total of 89 officials from Directorate of Coir Development participated in the training program. There were also officials form COIRFED, Kerala State Coir Corporation, FOMIL, Kerala State Coir Machine Manufacturing Company, NCRMI, Industry experts, Management Experts and invited delegates for the workshop.

Workshop on Coir Geotextile for Officials of Coir Development Department

NCRMI has conducted the workshop on Coir Geotextile for officials of Coir Department on 07.10.2021. The workshop was to initiate the marketing of Coir Geotextiles in Panchayats, Blocks and Municipalities using the workforce of Coir project offices under Coir Development Department. The workshop was inaugurated by Sri V R Vinod IAS, Director of Coir Development & Director, NCRMI. Senior officials of all the10 project offices along with officers who would be engaged in the marketing of Geo textile were directed by the Department for participation in the workshop. 26 participants from all project offices participated in the workshop.

Conducted workshop on restructuring of Coir Industry

Workshop on restructuring of Coir Indutsry for the officers of Coir Directorate and Coir PSU’s and Kudumbasree units was held on 24.11.2017 to 26.11.2017 at NCRMI seminar hall. The 3 day workshop was an important milestone in the 2nd reorganization movement of the Coir Industry. Selected participants from various sectors were invited for effortful contribution towards the reorganization movement. The issues in various sectors were discussed and its solution was tried to figure out. The program was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Coir Dr Thomas Isaac. Group discussions project wise were held, direct interaction of Minister with the project officers were also conducted. Cost analysis of DF mills was performed. Discussion was held on the coir cooperative structure reorganizing, issues in spinning sector and finally marketing and implementation of geotextiles and its status was discussed.

Workshop on Scope of Online Marketing in Coir Industry for Senior Officials of Coir PSU’s

NCRMI has conducted a workshop for Senior officials of Coir PSU’s to promote the coir products in the domestic markets with the help of Online media namely prominent ecommerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart and other related sites and via Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Watsapp etc., The workshop was conducted for 2 days from 15th to 16th May 2023. A group of 24 participants from various PSU’s – COIRFED, Kerala State Coir Corporation and from Coir Cooperative Societies and also officials from Directorate of Coir Development participated in the workshop.

Workshop on Techno Marketing of Coir Geotextiles under MGNREGAS for DCD Officials

NCRMI under the direction of Coir Directorate conducted One day Workshop for Officials of Directorate of Coir Development on 27.02.2022 at NCRMI campus, Trivandrum. The workshop platform was conceptualized for officials of Coir Directorate taking cue of the laxity in realizing the Coir Geotextiles orders from LSGD under different MGNREGS projects as against MoU signed. The crux concept for conduct of the workshop is to acquaint the officials of the Coir Directorate to master their knowledge base on Coir Geotextiles for direct marketing with LSGD with the support of Coir Public sectors – COIRFED, Kerala State Coir Corporation & Foam Mattings (India) Ltd on a pan Kerala basis.

NCRMI Campus

NCRMI campus is situated at Kudapanakunnu panchayath coming under Thiruvananthapuram Corporation area. It is fledged over 7 Acres of land in a lush green environment inhabited by different varieties of trees and plants and also has a well maintained fresh water pond in the campus. It is a green campus and environment friendly practices are followed, particularly plastic & similar non-environment friendly items are not allowed inside campus. The NCRMI campus comprises of 4 main buildings and 2 works sheds. Administrative block, Lab block, Machine shop and Canteen are the 4 buildings .

Seminar Hall

NCRMI has a fully furnished seminar hall that can accommodate 80 persons at a time. The hall is air conditioned and furnished with coir products to adhere functionality of seminar/lecture halls. The coir furnishing is both aesthetic and performs its duty as an acoustic material by cutting off the echo and also regulates the temperature inside the hall accordingly. The chairs are height adjusted cushioned seats that are ergonomically designed to reduce pressure during long sessions and have adjustable padded arm rest attached. The hall is also equipped with LCD projector and high speed internet facility.

Training hall

NCRMI has two training hall that are completely air conditioned with a capacity to accommodate 50 persons each. The training hall has cushioned seats with armrest for taking down lecture with LCD projector.

Hostel Facility

NCRMI has a fully furnished air conditioned hostel for the participants of various training programs within the campus. NCRMI hostel can accommodate 44 delegates at a time. The rooms are spacious, well maintained and air conditioned. The hostel also has a separate recreation room for indoor games and which also has a TV and built in internet facility.

Canteen

NCRMI consists of a separate canteen building which is maintained hygienically and neatly. The canteen is a situated separately close to the trainees hotel inside the NCRMI campus. The canteen can accommodate 50 participants on a stretch. The chairs are steel and have marble top tables that can be arranged as per requirement to cater more participants.

Conduct of Buyer Seller Meets/Trade Meets/ Road Shows

Expansion of Market calls for strong marketing strategies. The traditional marketing methods of advertisement both in the print and visual media, display advertisements such as hoardings, banners etc have their own limitation. The wholesaler or the retailer and the ultimate buyer may not get an accurate account about the features, utility and the uniqueness of the product. The more acceptable and viable marketing method is to reach the Buyer with the product. Here come the relevance and significance of the Buyer – Seller Meets/Trade Meets accompanied by the display of products. It provides certain eminent benefits:

1. It creates a platform where the Seller personally meets the potential buyer.
2. The Buyer in turn could interact with the Seller / manufacturer directly and collect accurate information/details/features of the products on the stand for sale.
3. The seller displays his products and the buyer get an opportunity to assess the quality and possible utility of these products.
4. The platform also provides a venue for negotiation/bargain and finalization of contracts.
5. The buyer – seller meets/Trade Meets thus create a permanent and unbroken bond between the Seller and Buyers.
6. Therefore such Buyer – seller Meets/Trade Meets open a very potential market for the coir products.

The Buyer – Seller Meets with Product shows are, therefore, a highly effective marketing strategy to achieve the goal of strengthening the existing market and also to capture new buyers and tap new market. Participation of genuine buyers/traders/opinion makers etc in such Meets shall definitely augment the market. The Product show displaying latest products in the industry will convince the buyers about the use, utility and uniqueness of the coir products. Similarly the short video shows and the one to one interpersonal discussions and deliberations clarify the trends in the industry. Thus successfully organised Buyer – Seller Meets will be the most effective means to capture new market for the coir industry. The presence of top officials from the Coir Industry from the Government, Public Sector Undertakings etc in such events give it more significance and credibility. The Trade representatives, Buyers and the various organizations attending such events in the past have appreciated the attempts initiated by the Government of Kerala. Hence without any doubt we could state that Buyer –Seller Meets and Product shows play a vital role in marketing.

Training Programs undertaken by NCRMI

NCRMI is the Nodal agency for conducting training programs. NCRMI conducts varied training programs for Officials of Coir Department, PSU’s and Workers of PSU’s and Coir Cooperative Societies. The training program can be classified mainly into –

Staff Details

• Sri Abhishek C, Scientist S3
• Sri Rinu Premraj K, Scientist S2
• Sri Manjith M T, Technical Officer
• Smt Smrithy Sreekumar, Technical Officer
• Smt Sujatha K R, Clerical Assistant