From coconut husks to enterprise: How India’s coir sector is creating rural livelihoods

October 14, 2026 12:05 PM

From coconut husks to enterprise: How India’s coir sector is creating rural livelihoods

For Ranjana Ramchandra Kadam in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, a coir unit became a route to entrepreneurship. With assistance under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) and guidance from the Coir Board, she built a shed, acquired machinery and began manufacturing ropes, pillows and doormats. Her factory now provides full-time employment to six people. In Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district, Allam Gowthamy’s enterprise has grown into both a business and a...

From coconut husk to enterprise: Coir drives rural entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihoods

September 14, 2026 3:47 PM

From coconut husk to enterprise: Coir drives rural entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihoods

What begins as discarded coconut husk is increasingly being transformed into a source of enterprise, employment and sustainable livelihoods across India’s coconut-growing regions. Coir, a natural, durable and eco-friendly fibre, is moving beyond its traditional applications as rural entrepreneurs turn it into value-added products ranging from mats and ropes to handicrafts, bio-fertilisers and innovative packaging solutions. With support from the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterpris...

PM Modi to address post-budget webinar on agriculture tomorrow

March 5, 2026 9:44 PM

PM Modi to address post-budget webinar on agriculture tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a post-budget webinar on the theme "Agriculture and Rural Transformation" on Friday via video conferencing, according to a PMO statement. Under this theme, PM Modi is holding eight different webinar sessions covering four major sectors that include agriculture, animal husbandry and dairying; fisheries and rural livelihoods. The post-budget webinar will focus on promoting high-value agriculture by unlocking the potential of crops such as cashew, coconut...

Humble coconut oil turns into a luxury on rising demand, shrinking output

August 20, 2025 9:46 AM

Humble coconut oil turns into a luxury on rising demand, shrinking output

Prices of coconut oil are surging in Asia, where top consumer India leads the charge with a tripling in two years, as supply shortages and booming demand for the nutrient-rich water enclosed within turn the kitchen staple into a premium product. The edible oil is slipping out of the reach of price-conscious consumers, and those accustomed to its distinctive flavour, deeply embedded in regional cuisine, must search harder to find alternatives. "I will switch to the more affordable refined sunfl...