International Journal of Horticulture 2015, Vol.5, No.11, 1
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which are exported from India. The importing
countries were found to be Kenya, Tanzania, Turkey,
Zambia and Djibouti. The average number of
shipments per year found to be around five and the
average export price of wooden match splints per kg is
arrived at Rs 65.50. Whereas, the average price of
wooden safety matches per kg is arrived at Rs. 80.67
and the percentage change in the price of safety
matches over the match splints is arrived at 23.16 per
cent. When one could compare the local market price
and the export market price of wooden match splints
per kg, the percentage change in the price is arrived at
59.76. It revealed the status of export price capable of
fetching higher benefits to the exporters of match
splints without value addition. The local market is
managing largely with wax matches and trying to
export the wooden match splints which are demanded
heavily in the export market and hence the producers
of match splints should come forward to establish
their own softwood plantations which are suitable for
extracting the match splints to tap the benefits of
export market.
1.10.Constraints Faced by the Match Splints Industry
The constraints faced by the Match Splints Industry
are classified as Institutional Constraints and
Individual Constraints. The institutional constraints
identified were Non Availability of Sufficient Raw
Materials; Higher Wages to Labor and Non
Availability of Skilled Labor and the Frequent Power
Failure. These details are analyzed and the results are
presented in Table 10.
The non availability of sufficient raw materials found
to be the major constraint reported which could be
overcome by establishing the Ailanthus plantations in
the farm lands by entering into the Contractual agreement
by the match wood firm following the practice
adopted by the WIMCO Seedlings so that the raw
material demand could be met.
The second constraint is Higher Wages to Labor and
non availability of skilled labor. Here, skilled labor
means the labor capable of operating the machineries
available in the match splints industry through
experience or with some basic knowledge. On the
individual constraints side if we examine, the laborers
were feeling that the length of working hours extends
even up to 9 hours or 10 hours in a day. But these are
not appropriately compensated and hence they demand
higher wages. A compromise is needed between the
labor force and the institution managers by weighing
the individual difficulties in executing the tasks in
realizing the quality output. Skilled labor could be
easily absorbed in the open market if the company is
able to pay appropriate wages to the employees.
Frequent power failure is another constraint the
institution is facing. This can be overcome by
establishing the generator facility or by establishing
the co generation unit by utilizing the wood residues
available with them.
Among the individual constraints, the poor accomm-
odation facility could be overcome by providing good
accommodation facility to them during the winter and
summer season. The health of the labor force is a
backbone for the success of the company and hence
good rooms can be constructed and provided to them
for smooth running of the business.
2 Summary and Conclusions
The Match Splints Industry located in the Western
Zone of Tamil Nadu is capable of meeting the raw
material requirements, able to generate various outputs
Table 10 Details of Constraints Faced by the Match Splints Industry
Sl. No
Details of Constraints
Number of Persons Reporting
Percentage
Institutional Constraints
1
Non Availability of Sufficient Raw Materials
01
100.00
2
Higher Wages to Labor and Non Availability
of Skilled Labor
01
100.00
3
Frequent Power Cut
01
100.00
Individual Constraints
4
Heavy Work Load to Labor Force
14
93.33
5
Poor Wages Paid per Day
14
93.33
6
Poor Accommodation Facility Extended
12
80.00
Total Respondents
15
100.00
