By Janet Preethi G | Project Leader
In the dry areas of Trichy district, where coconut trees sway against the wind, a quiet transformation is taking place—led not by machines, but by the skilled, calloused hands of women like Amudha.
For years, Amudha’s family sold coconuts for barely enough to buy daily groceries. The coconut husks were discarded, seen as waste. But when a local women's collective received training in coir rope-making, everything changed.
The Birth of a Coir Business
Amudha and 12 other women formed a Self-Help Group (SHG) and started collecting discarded coconut husks. With a coir defibering machine provided through a rural development scheme and some simple rope-twisting equipment, they began producing coir yarn and ropes—used in mattresses, farming, gardening, and even eco-friendly packaging.
They also learned to craft coir mats, doormats, brushes, and baskets, which quickly gained popularity in nearby towns and handicraft fairs.
Impact at a Glance
Each woman now earns 6,000–10,000/month through coir production and product sales.
The village turned a waste material into a zero-waste circular economy.
Women who once had no income now manage sales, accounts, and even train other groups.
Support & Scale
The group received:
Skill training from the Coir Board and local NGOs.
A defibering and spinning machine through a government subsidy.
Market access support via exhibitions and SHG marketing outlets.
What They Make
Coir Ropes – used in farming (like for climbing plants), construction, and packaging.
Door Mats and Floor Mats – natural, durable, and decorative.
Plant Hangers and Garden Products – popular in urban gardening.
Coir Geotextiles – used in erosion control on slopes and roadsides.
Future Dreams
The women now dream of:
Setting up a common facility center with better machines.
Building their own “Coir Products” brand to sell across Tamil Nadu and online.
Training 100 more rural women to start coir-based micro-enterprises.
Conclusion
From waste to wealth, from silence to strength—coir has done more than create products. It has created independence, confidence, and respect for women who once had none.
With just a coconut husk and a little support, these women are weaving more than ropes. They are weaving a stronger rural economy for Tamil Nadu.
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