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The attractive factor is the low price of the coconut wood, which is almost half the price of conventional wood.

Kochi , Sept. 17

TREATED coconut wood is emerging as a substitute to hardwood in various applications especially for the middle and low income groups in the coconut-growing regions of the country.

With the adopting of wood processing technologies, coconut wood can be used for any wood based industry. Now it is used for making doors and window frames and panels, very attractive furniture like sofa set, dining table and chairs, wall panels, stair railing, cylindrical pillars, etc.

Besides, a lot of handicraft items such as TV case, wall clock case, many carved curios and showcase items are made by trained craftsmen on cottage industry level, according to Mr K.V. Subramanian, Director of Coconut Development Board.

Availability of senile palms and non-senile wood yielding palms in the country's coconut-growing States coupled with the decrease in supply of hard wood had enhanced the scope for increased use of coconut wood in the country, he said.

More than 50 per cent of the area under coconut in Kerala and border districts of Tamil Nadu is under the grip of rootwilt disease and this has resulted in the felling of millions of palms of different age group. Now a palm would fetch a farmer Rs 1,000 to 2,500 depending upon its age and quality. In fact, at least one truckload of coconut wood is sold every month by most of the mills in the coastal belt of Kerala.

The attractive factor is the low price of the coconut wood, which is almost half the price of conventional wood and, hence, it is becoming popular among the middle and low-income groups in the coconut growing states, especially Kerala.

In fact, coconut wood had been traditionally used for making roofing structure for village houses, farm houses, cattle sheds, fencing poles, tool handles, village bridges, rice pounding rod, etc. The villagers were using some conventional methods to treat the wood and that in roofing applications lasts over 50 to 60 years.

Scientifically treated coconut wood was now used in structural applications depending mainly on its density, he said. High density materials should be used in building components such as posts, trusses, door and window jambs, girders, bearers, vertical studs, floors, floor joists, purlins and other load-bearing structures. The medium density boards can be used for walling, horizontal studs, ceiling joists and door/window frames, Mr Subramanian said.

Of late, there had also been some attempts for preparing paper pulp out of coconut wood in Fiji, New Zealand, Philippines, he pointed out. However, a study had concluded not to recommend the coconut wood for making pulp as it was found economically unviable due to the low yield and inferior quality.

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