Kerala Agricultural University introduces cashew grafts in eco-friendly Coir Fibre Root Trainers as an alternative to plastic polybags
Kerala Agricultural University in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Research Institute has successfully carried out the feasibility of using Coir Fibre Root Trainers (CRTs) for cashew graft production.Under the new production system, cashew seedlings are raised in 150-cc coir fibre root trainers, and grafting is carried out on two-month-old seedlings. T. Sajitha Rani, Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University said CRTs have the potential to replace plastic polybags in cashew nurseries to a considerable extent.Sujanapal, Principal Scientist, Kerala Forest Research Institute, said that KFRI has studied the performance of CRTs in more than 100 forest species and has already supplied more than one lakh forest tree seedlings produced using this technology. However, the use of CRTs for cashew graft production is being attempted for the first time.Sheik Hyder Hussain, a, former officer from Indian Forest Service and has been mentoring efforts to popularize the technology, said the production of CRTs is currently progressing as part of the GAIL India CSR project and that the present study has demonstrated the feasibility of using CRTs for graft production also.Skilled grafters at the nursery of the Cashew Research Station highlighted the ease of handling CRTs during nursery operations.The adoption of CRTs for cashew graft production could enable the nursery to reduce its dependence on plastic polybags. The new system is expected to reduce resource requirements in the nursery, better transportation and improve labour efficiency, thereby making cashew graft production more sustainable and easier to manage.The initiative marks a significant step towards introducing environment-friendly nursery practices in cashew and enhancing the value and utilization of coir-based biodegradable materials, said a press release.Published on August 21, 2026
