Kerala Agricultural University Introduces Coir Fibre Root Trainers for Cashew Grafts

Kerala Agricultural University has introduced cashew grafts using eco-friendly Coir Fibre Root Trainers (CRTs) as an alternative to traditional plastic polybags. The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI).

Under this production system, cashew seedlings are raised in 150-cc coir fibre root trainers, with grafting performed on two-month-old seedlings. According to T. Sajitha Rani, Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, these root trainers hold the potential to replace plastic polybags in cashew nurseries to a considerable extent.

Sujanapal, Principal Scientist at the Kerala Forest Research Institute, noted that KFRI has previously studied the performance of CRTs in over 100 forest species and has supplied more than one lakh forest tree seedlings produced using this technology. However, applying this method to cashew graft production is being attempted for the first time.

Sheik Hyder Hussain, a former officer from the Indian Forest Service who has been mentoring efforts to popularize the technology, stated that the production of CRTs is currently progressing as part of the GAIL India CSR project. The recent study has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using CRTs for graft production.

Skilled grafters working at the Cashew Research Station's nursery highlighted that the root trainers are easy to handle during daily nursery operations. The adoption of CRTs is expected to reduce resource requirements, improve transportation logistics, and enhance labor efficiency, making cashew graft production both more sustainable and easier to manage.

This initiative marks a step toward introducing environment-friendly practices in agricultural nurseries and increasing the utilization of biodegradable, coir-based materials.

"The adoption of eco-friendly alternatives like coir fibre root trainers demonstrates how traditional agricultural practices can successfully integrate sustainable materials to reduce plastic dependence. Beyond the clear environmental benefits, innovations that improve labor efficiency, logistics, and resource management can create meaningful operational efficiencies in the agricultural sector. As environmental regulations and sustainability demands evolve, scalable green solutions will play an increasingly vital role in long-term business viability." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes