2025, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part R

The findings show that employment increased steadily from 7.36 lakh to 7.51 lakh, although the annual growth rate declined over the years. Registered coir units grew at a faster pace than employment, with a strong positive correlation indicating that enterprise expansion directly drives job creation. Production and export analysis reveals significant fluctuations, with a sharp decline of around 24-25 per cent in all major coir products and a negative export growth of -35.63 per cent in 2024-25, reflecting supply-side challenges and global market instability. Government budgetary support remained strong until 2023-24 but declined in 2024-25, potentially affecting industry development initiatives. Skill development programmes, especially the Mahila Coir Yojana and value-added product training, continue to play a vital role in enhancing employment, with women forming a major share of beneficiaries.

Overall, the study concludes that the coir industry continues to contribute significantly to sustainable employment and rural economic development, but it faces emerging challenges related to production stability, export volatility, and financial support. Strengthening value addition, improving raw material availability, and expanding skill development are essential for maintaining the sector’s developmental role.