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...