In what comes across as great news for small coconut exporters in the country, the Coconut Development Board (CDB) has predicted that export of coconut and its by-products, except coir, will more than double in the next 2-3 years. India being one of the biggest producers of these commodities, this development holds immense importance for the numerous MSMEs in the coconut industry.

“There has been a rise in demand for coconut and its products such as coconut shell charcoal and coconut shell activated carbon from European countries. However, export of other by-products of coconut is still quite less due to sluggish demand,” said A Ponnukuttan, convenor of the Gandhiji Coconut Cluster in Palakkad district of Kerala.

Incidentally, India’s export of coconut and its allied products, a major chunk of which comes from the MSME-stable, stood at Rs 432 crore during 2009-10 and according to CDB chairman CV Ananda Bose it is expected to touch Rs 600 crore in 2010-11.

According K Nagarajan, owner of Bluish Exports, a small-sized unit in Kottur, Tamil Nadu, which manufactures coconut products and copra, “India usually has a surplus of coconuts but because of low rainfall since last year, coconut production has reduced. Some coconut allied industries like coir are also facing raw material shortages.”

Last month, CDB had started a global campaign to boost export of coconut and coconut products. As a part of the campaign, CDB plans to send trade delegations to lucrative markets and organise trade expos in its existing as well as new markets. These endeavours by CDB are likely to benefit MSMEs in this sector who are likely to gain from more exposure at these trade events in foreign markets and consequently receive more buyers for their products.