Asannagar College’s coconut-shell saplings show a greener way
The Statesman | 7 September 2025The college, which stands on the edge of farmland and scattered settlements, is no stranger to shrubs and unwanted growth around its premises. But instead of viewing the vegetation as waste, members of the institution saw the possibility. Amidst the undergrowth, they identified saplings of valuable species—mango, kanchan, jamun, guava, ashok, kadam, bel, tejpat, sapodilla and others—that had sprouted naturally but risked being lost. These were carefully transplanted into coconut shells and nurtured for months, before being distributed this week to eager hands in the surrounding community.
“We wanted to prove that greening can be done differently, and without adding to the environmental burden,” said Principal Dr. Ashok Kumar Das, standing beside a row of tender plants neatly encased in the earthy halves of coconuts. “The usual practice is to raise saplings in black plastic packets. But plastic is neither biodegradable nor friendly to the soil. Coconut shells, on the other hand, can be planted along with the sapling, enriching the earth as manure while protecting the young roots. What could be more natural?”
This year, about 35 saplings were prepared and gifted, but the effort has already sparked bigger dreams. “Next year, we aim to produce at least 100 saplings in this manner,” said Dr. Aniruddha Saha, professor of education. “At a time when climate change, deforestation and vanishing green cover dominate public debate, such small but innovative practices can leave a profound impact.”
The very choice of coconut shells as a vessel has cultural resonance in rural Bengal. Every household, at some point, discards coconuts after use; in this project, they are reclaimed to serve as natural pots. The circularity is striking: waste nurtures life, and the product—unlike plastic—returns to the soil seamlessly.
“It is a kind of silent environmental education,” observed a teacher from the science faculty. “When local villagers see saplings grown in coconut shells, they not only receive a tree, they also receive a lesson in sustainability. The method speaks louder than words.”
