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Government has provided grants of Rs.11.44 crore to the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVCC) and Rs.13.50 crore to the Coir Board during the Tenth Plan period (upto 2004-05) for research and development activities in the agro sector, including coir.
For development of new and upgradation of existing rural technologies in thirteen village industry sectors, the KVIC has entered into technical agreements with national level institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Technology (NIT), etc. In addition, the Khadi Gramodyog Prayog Samiti, Ahmedabad, an institution which is registered with the KVIC, develops tools and implements and improved technologies for adoption by khadi institutions and artisans. Similarly, the Coir Board is engaged in modernization of technologies relating to fibre extraction, spinning, product manufacturing, etc., as part of its research and development activities. The Coir Board has also developed a mild steel compact handloom, called “Anugraha” for women to weave mattings/geotextiles. Conversion of coir pith into organic manure, using ‘pith plus’ is another technology, which has been popularized in the rural areas through field demonstrations.
This information was given by the Minister of Small Scale Industries and Agro & Rural Industries, Shri Mahabir Prasad in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
MG: PM
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