Daijiworld Media Network - Brahmavar (SP)

Brahmavar, Dec 26: At a time when artificial things are flooding the market, natural, organic things are getting increasing demand now. People have traditionally been making rope and coir filling for sofas from the coconut husks. Sathish Poojary has been successfully involved with the manufacture of coir manure and bio compost since the last 28 years. Barkur Sathish Poojary, who owns Global Coir Industry, is a model, progressive, and creative industrialist.

Sheena Poojary Bennekudru had sensed the rich potential coir held, and had taken up the task of producing various products with coir instead of burning the husk. He had thought of it 50 years ago, and his Om Shree Coir is well known for making strong ropes of different diameters and strengths for various purposes like tethering the buffalos, tying the chicken, drawing water, pulling chariot etc. Bennekudru is well known for these products.

When demand for coir ropes dwindled due to the dominance of nylon ropes, Sheena Poojary's children, Arun Poojary and Sathish Poojary, mechanised their industry and survived. Now by manufacturing coco pit manure, they have waste level recognition. They also plan to make compost.

Sathish Poojary says that in the past, coir board used to grant subsidies but now they get only 25 percent from the district industries centre. He says there are people who have opened industries to get subsidies and then closed them. He said that direct markets through clusters have been provided in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The manure he makes has microorganism, rich nutrients and seven kinds of bio organisms. If this is used, there is no need for other manure. One kg husk has capacity to hold 15 litres of water, he revealed. Coir can also be used to make geo tech tiles which can hold back erosion where there is loose soil. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had instructed to use geo tech tiles for the foundation of 10,000 km of road, he revealed. But it is uncertain when this will be implemented.

Poojary is happy that youngsters are coming back to the agricultural field in a big way now. He says that during the lockdown, his industry, which also has a unit at Saibrakatte, continued to thrive. He has many new ideas and says with good encouragement, new products can be invented and introduced to the market.