The Central Coir Research Institute is one of the prime research centre of Coir Board (Recognised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India) established in the year 1959 implements all the S & T programs for the development of Coir Industry headed by Dr. U.S.Sarma Director,RDTE

The Research wing of the Coir Board was formed in 1955 in pursuance of the recommendations of the committee for Research and Statistics of the Coir Board.  The Committee had suggested short term measures for initiating scientific research on problems of importance to the coir industry for immediate follow up and also establishment of a Central Coir Research Institute in the long term. Accordingly, nucleus of the Research Station was formed in September 1955, with the appointment of a Coir Technologist.  Pending establishment of the Central Coir Research Institute, the initial research investigation under the Board were conducted at the Cotton  Technology Research Laboratory, Mumbai and the Department of Chemical Technology, University of Mumbai, Mumbai.  Simultaneously, action was pursued for acquisition of the land and organization of the laboratories for the Research Institute. A ten acre site was acquired in 1958 at Kalavoor,Alleppey about 8 km.north of the Alleppey Town(Kerala) on the Alleppey-Cherthalai National Highway 47.  The Institute started functioning in 1959.

The Central Coir Research Institute, Kalavoor aims for conducting studies related to problems in extraction and further processing of coir fibre into yarn and products.  Investigations on various aspects on coir industry covering developments of improved methods of extraction of coir and subsequent processing of coir fibre and yarn, process improvement, product betterment/diversification. Identification of prospective new areas for potential utilization of coir, coir waste and coconut pith etc. and formulation of standards for different coir products, preparation of project schemes for coir extraction and processing/evolving projects for manufacture of mats and mattings on modern systems and organizing improved dyeing facilities, development of new product lines, technical consultancy and field extension service form part of the major areas of research programs of this institute.

The Institute has infrastructure for imparting training to students to acquire in depth knowledge in the processing of coir and coir products, weaving of mattings in semi automatic / jacquard looms, wet processing of coir, Shade Matching, Testing of Coir and Coir Products, Composting of Coirpith in to organic manure, Conversion of coir fibre to the quality of retted fibre, Manufacture of instant Coco lawn, Manufacture of blended/handicraft items from coir and allied fibres, evolving designs for coir products on CAD, Repair and maintenance of Coir Processing Machineries, Weaving of Geo-textiles, Spinning of Coir fibre on motorized ratt / motorised traditional ratt, beaming of warp coir yarn, Composting of Coirpith using perforated PVC pipes, Application of Coir Geo-textiles in various Geo-technical uses.  Innumerable firms/societies have been utilizing the facilities to their maximum advantage for the overall development of coir industry.

The CCRI scientists do interact with foreign Institutes and a few of them have been trained in Tropical Products Institute, London (presently Tropical Development & Research Institute) in wet processing of coir  and Dansk Textile Research Institute, Germany in testing of textile materials.  The scientists have extended assistance in setting up of coir based industrial units in foreign countries, such as Fuji,Ghana, West Indies etc.