Alleppey, in Kerala is known for the backwater tours.
The backwaters are the interconnected saltwater river networks that provide many people with access to transport and fish.
Villages are widespread, and daily commutes to the town are not easy. So the villager have created a co-op business. Each household handles a portion of the production cycle.
In this case, the villagers we met made rope from coconut fiber. Coconut husks are soaked for 6 months, until the fiber is softened and fluffy.
A simple motorized machine spins a small hook. The women carry bags of lose fiber in front of them. The hook catches a few fibers, and in turn those fibers catch more fibers, and twist them.
The twisted rope, then catches more fibers as it spins... the result: a robe magically appears out of the bags of lose fibers! The women (not men), walk back as the rope grows.
The backwaters are the interconnected saltwater river networks that provide many people with access to transport and fish.
Villages are widespread, and daily commutes to the town are not easy. So the villager have created a co-op business. Each household handles a portion of the production cycle.
In this case, the villagers we met made rope from coconut fiber. Coconut husks are soaked for 6 months, until the fiber is softened and fluffy.
A simple motorized machine spins a small hook. The women carry bags of lose fiber in front of them. The hook catches a few fibers, and in turn those fibers catch more fibers, and twist them.
The twisted rope, then catches more fibers as it spins... the result: a robe magically appears out of the bags of lose fibers! The women (not men), walk back as the rope grows.
Absolutely incredible! The end result - rope.
The materials for the rope are sourced elsewhere, and the rope will to go elsewhere. The rope will be used in construction, and in the making of mats, carpets and crafts.
The co-op shares the profits at the end of the year, and the villagers only earn a minimal labour wage. In the case of the rope: $0.02 per 20m length of rope (takes about 4 minutes to make 2 lengths of rope)...
Doing the maths... $1.00 per hour.
Better than starving.
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