Coir fibre is made from coconut husk and is a traditional industry in

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Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
The coir fibre industry, which extracts natural, resilient fiber from the outer husk of the coconut, is overwhelmingly concentrated and is a deeply traditional industry in **South India**. The region's geography and climate are perfectly suited for extensive coconut cultivation, which provides the essential raw material. Specifically, the state of Kerala is universally recognised as the "home of the Indian coir industry," accounting for a major share of the country's coconut production and coir product manufacturing. The historical significance of the industry dates back to the mid-19th century when the first factory was established in Alappuzha (Alleppey). Furthermore, the long coastlines and network of backwaters in South India, particularly Kerala, provide the natural retting facilities—a crucial process of soaking the husks to prepare the fibre—that traditional methods rely upon. Other major coir-producing states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are also situated in the South Indian region, solidifying its status as the nucleus of this traditional agro-based industry.

The incorrect option is 1:
North India is geographically located far inland and away from the tropical coastal belt of India that supports the large-scale cultivation of coconut palms. The climate in most of North India, characterised by extreme temperatures (hot summers and cold winters), is unsuitable for the widespread growth of coconut trees, which require a warm, humid, and coastal environment. Consequently, North India lacks the abundant supply of coconut husks—the core raw material—needed to sustain a traditional, large-scale, and centuries-old coir industry. Any coir-related activity in this region would be based on importing raw materials or finished products from the South, making it neither a traditional center nor the primary focus of the industry.

The incorrect option is 3:
While East India includes coastal states like Odisha (Orissa) and West Bengal, which do have some coconut production and coir units, the scale and historical precedence of the industry are significantly less dominant compared to South India. In terms of overall production, employment, and the traditional techniques that define this cottage industry, the eastern states' contribution is minor when placed alongside Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Though coir production is growing in parts of East India, it is considered a relatively recent proliferation rather than the traditional, long-established base of the industry in the country.

The incorrect option is 4:
West India, encompassing coastal states such as Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat, does have coastal access and varying degrees of coconut cultivation. However, similar to the East, the coir industry in the West is not the major hub. The industry's concentration is markedly lower than in the southern states. The coir industry in India largely originated and flourished in the South due to optimal cultivation conditions and the availability of retting water, establishing a traditional dominance and infrastructure that the western states have not historically matched in terms of output and employment.