§1What this business is
Coir pith is laid in layers with Pithplus (a spawn of the edible mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju) and urea, up to 1.5 m high, and kept at 200% moisture by sprinkling. In 30 days it turns into dark manure rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients. Large heaps get perforated PVC pipes for air.
Capacity: 10 tons a day; 3,000 tons a year (300 days); 35% yield loss. Sale ₹7,000 and raw material ₹4,000 a ton.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone near coir fibre units with access to farmer networks or FPOs.
Who it is not for
Someone without open land or farmer buyers nearby.
Advantages
- Turns a waste heap into a farm input
- Simple, low-tech process
- Improves soil and crop yield
- Organic farming demand is rising
Drawbacks
- High break-even in year 1 (73%)
- Needs a lot of open space
- Bulky, low-price product — transport eats margin
- Selling as manure needs FCO compliance
Skills you need
- Composting and moisture control
- Nutrient testing
- Bagging and dispatch
- Farmer outreach
Why difficulty 2/5: Easy process; the challenge is space, compliance and selling to farmers.
§3Market
Who buys
- Farmers and FPOs
- Plantations and nurseries
- Organic input dealers
How it sells
- Agri-input dealers
- Direct sale to FPOs and plantations
Good to know
- The profile says the manure improves soil properties and crop yield.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sewing machine | 5 | ₹6,00,000 |
| Sprinkler | 5 | ₹50,000 |
| Weighing machine | 4 | ₹75,000 |
| Vessels and other equipment | — | ₹35,000 |
| Packing and stitching machine | 2 | ₹40,000 |
| Other equipment | — | ₹1,00,000 |
From: PMEGP project profile — Coir Pith Manure Unit (prepared by Coir Board, Ministry of MSME) (2018)
- Coir pithraw material ₹4,000 a ton
- Pithplus culturespawn of Pleurotus sajor-caju that breaks down the pith
- Ureafeeds the culture; layered between pith
- Perforated 4-inch PVC pipesfor aerating large heaps
From: PMEGP project profile — Coir Pith Manure Unit (prepared by Coir Board, Ministry of MSME) (2018)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Fertiliser Control Order registration from the state agriculture department to sell it as organic manure
- Registration with the Coir Board (needed to export; also opens Coir Board schemes)
- State Pollution Control Board consent (check the category for your process)
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP (this profile was made for it), MUDRA loans up to ₹20 lakh and CGTMSE cover for a collateral-free loan fit.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Coir Board profile: work shed ₹5.00 lakh + machinery ₹9.00 lakh + working capital ₹5.14 lakh = ₹19.14 lakh.
Working capital: Working capital ₹5.14 lakh (bank ₹4.88 lakh).
Prices from June 2018 — machinery costs will be higher now.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: Coir Board
- Coir exporters register with the Coir Board and take its registration-cum-membership certificate.
- Confirm the exact 8-digit code in the DGFT ITC-HS schedule before you ship.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Rain washing out urea
- Low farm-gate prices
- Quality tests under FCO
- Seasonal buying by farmers
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working coir pith organic manure unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Coir Pith Organic Manure?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.