is a bi-product of coconut. Coconut rooted its presence from the
Vedic period itself in India. Valmiki had given references about
coconut in Ramayana. Marcopolo the famous traveler called
coconut as ‘Indian nut’. As per studies historians argues coconut
262 coir
ANCHOR
INDIA
cultivation started in Kerala after the arrival of Portuguese. Ropes
and cordages made from coconut fibres were in use from
centuries ago. Indian navigators used coir as ship’s cables and for
riggers even during ancient times. The first coir industry was