Despite its element of tautology - backwardness of industry because of backwardness of industrial technology - this line of reasoning rightly emphasises technological backwardness as a crucial fact of Kerala’s industrial life. Indeed the major industries in the State, whether it be coir processing, handloom weaving or beedi-making, are marked by the use of low productive technologies. Further development of industry in the State, among other factors, thus crucially hinges on technological upgradation.

Yet, given the fact that the level of technology in use is shaped by a host of factors, not merely economic, the shift to a higher technological frontier presents itself as a complicated move. The new techniques may be ideal from the point of view of productivity but are inappropriate to the social economy where these are applied. Moreover, it is important to consider the environmental implications of the new technology.

This paper relates to the question of technological change in Kerala industry by foregrounding the case of coir yarn spinning industry. Coir yarn is spun from the fibrous husk of coconut, a major produce of the region. Coconut husk is first defibred and the fibre thus obtained is spun into yarn. Coir yarn finds use on its own as also for weaving into mats and mattings. The present study primarily draws upon fieldwork carried out in three adjoining villages that are important centres of coir yarn production in southern Kerala.

Why coir? In terms of employment, coir industry is the most important among Kerala’s technologically backward, low productive industries. Workers in coir yarn processing are drawn from among the most disempowered social groups, mostly women of ‘lower’ and ‘out’ castes and to a much lesser extent men of ‘out’ castes. Despite intense trade unionisation the wages in the industry are lower than even in agriculture. Statutory minimum wages are not paid even in the co-operative segment of the industry.

Further, days of employment in the industry has shrunk to less than six months a year. The ongoing technological change in the industry thus has implications for vast sections of disempowered people in the State. Further, the success or failure of technological change in this ‘sunset industry’ has considerable significance from a growth perspective of the industry and the economy. Furthermore, given the fact that technological change currently underway comes after a gap of nearly a century- and-a-half, it holds a mirror to the issues of long-run technological change in Kerala industry. At the very least, it may be expected to offer lessons regarding technological change in similar low productive industries like handloom weaving and cashew nut processing that operate in a similar social environment.