(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
By [Pinky Ansari] In the quiet coastal villages of India, where coconut palms sway against monsoon skies, an ancient craft is silently transforming lives. Coir—the fibrous golden thread extracted from coconut husks—is not just a byproduct of nature but a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Indian families. At the heart of this grassroots revolution stands the Coir Board, a statutory body committed to reviving tradition, supporting livelihoods, and empowering women from India’s most economically vulnerable communities.

India is not just a significant player in the coir sector—it is the undisputed leader, producing over 80% of the world’s coir fiber. The sheer scale is staggering: the industry employs around 740,000 individuals, with an overwhelming majority coming from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Most remarkable, however, is the fact that nearly 80% of those involved in fiber extraction and spinning are women.

These are women who, for generations, have worked behind the scenes—twisting, weaving, and spinning resilience into every strand of coir. For many, the Coir Board’s support has meant the difference between vulnerability and stability. By offering training, facilitating cooperatives, and creating market linkages, the Board has transformed coir into a source of dignity and economic independence.

The coir sector in India is as diverse as it is vast. From family-run units in Kerala to women-led cooperatives in Tamil Nadu, from NGO-supported spinning centers in Odisha to exporters in Andhra Pradesh—the fabric of this industry is woven by many hands. The Coir Board acts as the loom, holding these threads together through policy support, skill development, and innovation.

One of the Coir Board’s most impactful initiatives lies in training programs that bring modern techniques to traditional hands. Women are taught to operate spinning machines, assess fiber quality, and even run small businesses. With each skill mastered, a new door opens—for stable income, for sending children to school, for building a future beyond subsistence.

Moreover, the Board’s emphasis on eco-friendly product development has added a new dimension to coir’s potential. From mats and brushes to biodegradable geotextiles and high-end décor, coir is finding global markets—and with it, the women behind the product are finding recognition.

The story of coir in India is not just about economics—it is about empowerment. It is about how a humble fiber, often discarded as waste, has become a vehicle for social change. And at the center of this transformation is the Coir Board, ensuring that tradition is not only preserved but given a new, progressive purpose.

As India continues to lead the world in coir production, the real success lies not in numbers but in lives changed. In every coil of coir, there is strength, there is history, and above all, there is hope—spun by the skilled hands of rural women who are finally being seen, heard, and valued.