Coco-peat beats the pest

Thousands of tonnes of coconut shells, lying strewn in urban roads and sea beaches and heaping up in landfills can be grounded or powdered to use in controlling pest.

According to a study conducted in Southern India by the Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab of Virginia Tech, the coconut waste material can be converted into “Coco-peat,” which can commercially be sold as anti-pest organic agent. When “coco-peat” is added to soil, it improves the soil’s texture and structure and is more likely to be free from bacteria and fungi.