Ruvinya Ltd: Offering an eco-friendly alternative to plant growing

Do you believe that adopting an ecological method and practice to plant growing is too expensive or not possible? Well, you will definitely change your perception and quickly embrace the eco-friendly concept and mindset with its various Coconut Coir Based products proposed by Ruvinya Ltd. 

Get rid of your fertilizers and harmful pesticides! Going ‘green’ and contributing to a sustainable environment has never been that easy. With its 20 various available products, Ruvinya Ltd allows every citizen to adopt an eco-friendly approach to plant growing and thus contribute to the development of ‘Sustainable Mauritius.’ 

Operating since 2007, Ruvinya Ltd proposes an organic material known as ‘Cocopeat’ or ‘Coir’ as a growing medium for almost all types of plants.  “We always had an idea of “being green” or giving something back to the nature. And as result of years of experiments, we found that bringing down Coconut Coir Based products would be a perfect fit to our new move,” explains Sumudu Liyanage. 

It is in 2012 that Sumudu and his wife Roshni introduced the products in Mauritius. What motivated the director of the company to launch this environment friendly product in Mauritius? “We noticed that there’s a need and not adequate quality and proper Coconut Coir based products at the right price that one could find in the market. Simultaneously, the trend and ‘Sustainable Mauritius’ concept and government mission motivated and brought us into action,” he states.

Cocopeat, Coconut Husk Chips, Grow pellets, GrowBags, Coir Fibre, Weed Suppressor Mats, Creeper Guides, Coir Tiles for green roof gardening, Coco Pots, Wire hanging Pots, Coir Walls tiles for vertical gardening, Bird Nests. These are some of the products (made from Coconut Coir) proposed by Ruvinya Ltd. However all these products are made from Sri Lanka and are commercialized in Mauritius. “We knew Cocopeat (as growing medium) and other Coir based products are not made in Mauritius, so there was always a market for right people at the right price. We also felt these natural and biodegradable products would do nothing but help the environment. Imported from a country which is rich in Coconut know-how is also an added point,” trusts Sumudu. 

The director of the company explains that the products are accessible to all Mauritians who wish to adopt the ‘eco-friendly’ concept in the growing of plants such as in agriculture or even in gardening. In fact Ruvinya Ltd also supplies growing mediums such as Cocopeat Blocks, Husk Chips & Growbags for wholesale buyers who use these products in commercial growing. Believing that the protection of the environment is vital today and beneficial for future generations, Sumudu utters that he is “sure that use of these products can prevent or delay any harm to the environment.” 

The countless benefits of the Cocopeat

But what is the Cocopeat or Coir made of exactly? “Coconut Peat is a lightweight, soil-less growing medium made from the fibres found between a ripe coconut’s shell and outer surface.” And what are its benefits? “Because it’s a material that occurs in nature, it’s completely renewable and is therefore considered an excellent choice for environmental sustainability. Coconut coir is available in brick or block format which expand when water is added. Coconut coir’s primary benefit that most growers boast about is its improved water retention ability, including its ability to be easily re-hydrated. At the same time, coconut coir also possesses aeration properties which is important in soil-less growing. Because of these two factors, plants grown in coconut coir – or a coco coir mixture – experience stronger root and better health overall because of its neutral pH level,” explains Sumudu Liyanage.

Cocopeat is also a great alternative to pesticides and fertilizers. As the director explains “this inert and sterile growing medium is bacteria free which will prevent plants from developing diseases, pest infestations, or fungus growth. Coconut coir has a natural composition of lignins, which are a natural polymer that may encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria in gardening capacity.”

Sumudu Liyanage also shares the reason why many growers now prefer to use the cocopeat. For many growers, the fact that coconut coir is an entirely renewable resource is an important benefit to consider when choosing your grown medium. Its environmental sustainability often gives it the edge over other alternatives like peat moss. Also, Coconut coir is a great soilless substrate to use in a tray system when growing wheatgrass or microgreens. It can also be used in pot systems for growing vegetable plants including leafy salad greens. It works great in either passive or active hydroponic systems because you can count on its ability to retain moisture.”