A three-day Entrepreneurship Development Programme for coir trainees commenced in Sri Vijaya Puram as part of efforts to promote self-employment and enterprise creation in the coir sector, particularly among women and rural trainees in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The programme, organised by the Coir Board’s Sub-Regional Office in collaboration with the Directorate of Industries, is being held at the Conference Hall of the Directorate of Industries. The initiative is aimed at equipping trainees with knowledge of institutional support systems, market opportunities and enterprise management, following their completion of field-level skill training.
A total of 80 trainees who had earlier participated in the Coir Board’s field training programme are attending the sessions. The participants include women from villages who underwent two months of field training with stipend support. The programme is designed to help trainees transition from skill acquisition to entrepreneurship by providing structured exposure to government schemes and business development processes.
The curriculum covers a range of topics relevant to setting up and sustaining small enterprises in the coir sector. Sessions include information on support available from the Industries Department, District Industries Centre, banks, micro, small and medium enterprises frameworks, personality development and marketing strategies. The focus is on enabling trainees to understand procedural requirements and institutional linkages necessary for launching micro-enterprises.
The programme also encourages trainees to explore collective business models, including the formation of self-help groups, to improve access to financial assistance, marketing platforms and shared infrastructure. Officials involved in the programme indicated that group-based approaches can help overcome individual capacity constraints and enhance sustainability of coir-based enterprises.
As part of the training schedule, the third day of the programme will include a field visit to a functioning coir industry unit, Sree Ayyappa Coir Industries at Beodnabad Road, Calicut Village. The visit is intended to provide trainees with practical exposure to mechanised production of coir fibre and coir yarn, allowing them to observe operational workflows and quality control processes.
Certificates were distributed to 40 trainees who successfully completed the Coir Board’s field training programme, marking a formal transition from skill training to enterprise orientation. Officials stated that certification plays an important role in enhancing employability and credibility of trainees when seeking institutional support or market linkages.
The entrepreneurship development initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen traditional and cottage industries in the islands by integrating skill development with enterprise promotion. The coir sector, which utilises locally available raw materials, is viewed as a potential avenue for sustainable livelihoods, particularly for women and marginalised groups.
By focusing on entrepreneurship, the programme seeks to reduce dependency on wage employment and encourage self-driven economic activity in rural and semi-urban areas. Organisers indicated that similar initiatives are expected to be continued to support diversification of livelihoods and value addition in the coir sector.
The programme is scheduled to conclude with the field visit, after which trainees are expected to apply the knowledge gained toward setting up or expanding coir-based enterprises within their communities.
