Lok Sabha Question No. 3831 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Revival of Kerala’s Traditional Export Sectors
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Kodikunnil Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3831 ANSWERED ON 12/08/2025

## REVIVAL OF KERALA'S TRADITIONAL EXPORT SECTORS

## 3831. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  continued  decline  of  Kerala's  traditional export industries such as coir and cashew, especially in regions like Alappuzha and Kollam, due to international market volatility, reduced global competitiveness and lack of modernization in production and processing infrastructure, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken or proposed by the Government to support value addition, branding and technological upgrading in the coir and cashew sectors to improve export earnings and livelihoods of workers, especially women  and  marginalized  communities employed in these industries;
- (c) whether any new SEZs, export facilitation centres or common facility centres are being planned  or  sanctioned  in  Alappuzha  or  Kollam  districts  to  support  MSMEs  and cooperatives engaged in coir and cashew processing and export, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government will consider enhancing export incentives under the RoDTEP and  interest  equalization  schemes  for  MSMEs  in  the  coir  and  cashew  sectors, particularly in Kerala, to improve global competitiveness, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (d):  The export of coir in 2024-25 was USD 377.98 million which was 32.30 % more than the export of coir in 2023-24 i.e. USD 285.69 million. The export of cashew in 2024-25 was USD 338.21 million, almost equal to USD 339.2 million in the year 2023-24. (Source: DGCIS)

Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry  of  Commerce  &  Industry,  through  its  financial  assistance  scheme  provides assistance to member exporters of food processing units of APEDA scheduled products, including cashew. To upgrade traditional processing methods and improve export competitiveness, financial support was extended to exporters of Kerala for the adoption of advanced  technologies,  fully  automated  nut  cutting  and  shelling  machines,  sorting  and

grading  lines  and  automated  colour  sorting  systems.  Further,  for  APEDA's  beneficiary exporters, belonging to SC/ST category and Women Entrepreneur, assistance upto 75% of the total cost, subject to a ceiling of Rs.2.00 Crores per beneficiary/exporter is  provided.

Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, through Coir Board, is implementing Coir Vikas Yojana (CVY) formulated with the objective of overall and sustainable development of coir industry in India. It includes a wide range of activities such as Research & Development, skill development of artisans, women empowerment through modernization, upgradation and establishing new units, promoting the domestic as well as export market and providing of trade & industry related functional support services.

Under CVY, more than 21,000 coir units are registered on Udyam providing employment to about 2.3 lakh persons since 2014-15. More than 64,000 persons and 30,000 women were trained and participation of around 1,000 exporters was facilitated in international exhibitions abroad  with  the  financial  assistance  of  more  than  Rs.  18  crores.  Further,  under  Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), more than 3,700 new Coir units have  been  established  with  a  financial  assistance  of  around  Rs.  176  crores,  providing employment to around 30,000 persons.

The Coir Cluster, namely the Ambalapuzha Coir Development Society in Alappuzha, Kerala, under the SFURTI Scheme, has been sanctioned  and Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has provided financial assistance of ₹79.74 lakhs to the coir cluster. At present, no proposal for setting up of a SEZ in the districts of Alappuzha and Ernakulam has been received by the Central Government.

The enhancement in remission rates for particular sector is taken up by RoDTEP Committee post examination of such requests from said industries after sectoral analysis of the duties/ taxes/levies at the Central, State and Local level, borne on the exported product. The Interest Equalisation Scheme is not operational as of now.

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