Abstract Paper Chairpersons View Archive of Discussion Messages Download .doc file About the Authors Abstract Coir industry is one of the important traditional cottage industries widely spread over South India. The case of Coco products, a small-scale industry located in Gubbi, Tumkur District, Karnataka, India, which is in the coir fibre production, is considered. Coconut husk is the basic raw material of the industry.
Tumkur district happens to be one of the prominent coconut growing areas in the state.
The speciality of this region is that edible copra is obtained from coconut. The coir fibre extracted from the husk is used in local bedding, mat and mattings, rubberized coir mattress, yarn and rope making etc. The byproduct of this industry is coir pith. Coir pith with a range of interesting properties finds various applications. Coir pith also has a very high water holding capacity of 5 to 6 times its weight.