Firm turns coconut husks into ropes

TANZANIA has started to produce coir ropes from coconut husks in Mkuranga, Coast Region.

The ropes are extracted from coconut fibres and are used in packing, making coir mats and in construction to stabilise soil.

The Mkuranga Cocopeat Product, Value Addition Officer, Mr Bosco Mtweve, said on Tuesday the current capacity is between 200 to 300 kilogrammes per day which translates to 200 to 500 meters of rope.

“We are currently producing coir fibre, coir rope, carpet and geotextile,” Mr Mtweve said at the ongoing 47th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DIFT):

“Our customers are in Zanzibar but we are finalising the process to start exporting to Kenya”.

The factory, Mkuranga Cocopeat, started to produce the coir ropes late last year after a two-year research conducted by the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organisation (TIRDO).

The factory is still supervised by TIRDO under an incubation programme.

He said to diversify their product portfolio, they are now producing coconut carpets products mainly used in boats as less affected by salt water.

“The idea is to turn coconut husks from waste to money,” TIRDO Researcher, Paul Kimath said yesterday at the Sabasaba fair.

The process of making coir ropes starts by drying husks and extracting coco peat and the remaining fibres are spun to create ropes.

Coconuts are grown in many parts of the country, especially in the coastal regions—Dar, Tanga, Pwani, Lindi and Mtwara and currently their husks are used in small amounts as seedling and garden manure—coco peat.

“After seeing the level of coconut husks thrown to waste, we decided to look for a way to add value to wasted husks. The best is to produce ropes out form its fibres,” he said.

He said they were able to discover that coconut husks can make strong rope as well as coco peat for seedlings.

“China uses coconut ropes as wire mesh on their construction of roads,” the researcher said.

Despite the abundant of coconut husks still the country imports coco peat from Indonesia and Sri Lanka, according to Mr Kimath.nic filing of such plans and reports.