This is yet another government initiative to boost the ailing domestic coconut sector. Recently, Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas had said that a new project wherein coconut timber would be used for construction purposes would soon be put into effect.
To be undertaken by the Coconut Development Board (CDB), the project will be launched in Kochi on September 23. Board chairman C V Ananda Bose said with the new initiative, the coconut timber that was being wasted can now be made useful.
“There are millions of senile coconut trees in the state that are being cut and removed, which can be put to good use with proper treatment,” he said. Bose said a major factor responsible for the decline of production and productivity in the coconut sector was the large-scale infestation of coconut by the root wilt disease owing to which most trees were being cut down.
Earlier, the Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra had undertaken low-cost, environmentfriendly housing by substituting hardwood with coconut timber.
Coconut timber is suitable for housing components like trusses, purlins, walls, joists, doors, window frames and jalousies.
Bose said using coconut timber would reduce the cost of construction to a great extent.
The cost of coconut wood is half that of other wood traditionally used for structural purposes. Using coconut timber is a forestfriendly move as it prevents hardwood trees from being cut down and used for construction, Bose said.
“From an environmental point of view, it is beneficial to use coconut timber and add value to it rather than see it go waste,” he said.
The CDB is planning to propagate the use of coconut timber in construction with the help of seminars, talks and demonstrations. Financial and technical assistance will also be given to those who wish to construct houses using coconut timber.
“The percentage of financial assistance given will be based on the scale of investment,” Bose said.