Coir Fed’s latest product ‘Coco Tree Mat’ has been handed over to the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) for conducting utility studies.
The CPCRI will examine the mats for six months by installing them on coconut saplings at their plantation.
It is the fourth product being manufactured as part of Coir Minister Adoor Prakash’s initiative to diversify the use of coir in the state.
The tree mat has the capacity to hold more water and organic material, the two essential elements needed for the growth of coconut trees, said the officials at Coir Fed.
According to them, the tree mat is developed in such a way that it will preserve moisture and the organic matter for a long time, thus helping water and fertilizers penetrate and remain intact in the mat.
The 48-millimetre thick and 12-meter wide mat weighs around 900 to 1,100 grams.