Jose Antony and his wife Ambili of Wayanad in Kerala have transformed a simple coconut farm into a successful business that processes coconut husks into value-added products. Their venture, “The Fiber House,” is now providing not only a steady income for their family but also employment opportunities for ten other local workers.
Jose, 54, who owns a coconut farm at Pulpally, noticed a large quantity of husks going to waste every year after extracting coconuts from them. This prompted Jose, a chemistry graduate, to explore ways to repurpose the husks into valuable products. After extensive research and visits to other processing units, he and Ambili established The Fiber House.
“We started the venture in 2023 after identifying the demand for high-quality coir fibers and coir pith in the market. Apart from utilising the coconut husks from our coconut farm, we also source coconut husks from other coconut farmers in our locality,” Jose Antony told “Open Digest“.
Jose Antony had to invest over Rs 1.25 crore for setting up the processing unit with state-of-the-art machinery. “The high-quality long fibers extracted from the husks are sold to Coir Fed. We also make coir pith, which is in high demand for making organic manure,” Jose said.
While coir pith (coco peat) is also used as floor bedding in poultry farms and as a soil additive in agricultural fields due to its moisture retention properties, broken fiber is used by ginger farmers as it helps retain soil moisture and improve crop growth. Looking ahead, Jose and Ambili have plans to expand their operations by starting a coir yard unit and producing garden trays and bio-fertilisers from coconut fiber, further increasing the value of their products. Their entrepreneurial spirit has created a sustainable business that benefits both their family and the local community.
