A Coir Fest, part of the Government’s observance of this year as the ‘Coir Year’ and aimed at popularising the latest coir products, will be organised at the SDV School Grounds here from June 19 to 23. The fest is a prelude to the International Coir Fest that will be held here in November.
The fest, showcasing traditional coir products along with handloom, khadi, bamboo, cashew and clay products, will be inaugurated by actor Mammootty at 5 p.m. on June 19 after Coir and Cooperation Minister G. Sudhakaran opens the event venue at 10 a.m. the same day.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, P.P. Chitharanjan, Municipal Chairman, and G. Venugopal, State Coir Corporation Chairman, said a medical pavilion set up by students of the Kochi Cooperative Medical College, stalls of Consumerfed, Rubco, National and Rural Health Missions, Kudumbasree, the Rubber Marketing Federation etc., and a sale cum display of mini de-fibering machines developed by the National Coir Research and Management Institute would be part of the event.
Seminars with topics such as ‘The Golden Yarn of God’s Own Country: Potential and Challenges’, ‘The Domestic Marketing Possibilities for Coir’, ‘Coir Commission Report and Revival of the Coir Sector’, ‘Challenges faced by the Coir Production Sector’, and ‘Women Empowerment in the Coir Sector’; along with cultural programmes and poetry sessions will also be part of the Coir Fest.
The fest — entry is free for all — will have its valedictory function inaugurated by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac at 5 p.m. on June 23. This will be preceded by a cultural procession of coir workers and a coir workers’ get-together.
