Coir dragging down boats and buoys. The name coir comes from "kayar", the Malayalam word for cord. Ropes and cordage have been made from coconut fibre since ancient times. Indian navigators who sailed the seas to Malaya, Java, China, and the Gulf of Arabia centuries ago used coir for their ship ropes. Arab writers of the 11th century AD referred to the extensive use of coir for ship ropes and rigging. A coir industry in the UK was recorded before the second half of the 19th century. During 1840, Captain Widely, in co-operation with Captain Logan and Mr. Thomas Treloar, founded
Coir Board of India board works for the promotion, research, education, and training of the industry. The board functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The coir industry employs more than 7 lakh (700,000) people, a majority of whom are from rural areas who belong to economically weaker sections of society. The Coir Board has worked actively to support the International Year of Natural Fibres 2009. Coir Board of India The Coir Board is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Coir Industry Act 1953 (No. 45 of 1953) for the promotion and development of the coir