Cadjan

A cadjan house in Myanmar

Cadjan are woven mats made from coconut palm leaves, used for roofing and walls.^[1] Cadjan houses were available in many Asian countries in past, but with development these houses are now limited to very rural areas in India, Sri Lanka and a few other Asian countries.^{[citation needed]}

Dwellings constructed from cadjan has been shown to be worse at preventing mosquitos, and thus increasing the risk of malaria, when compared to more expensive building materials.^[2][3]

The material is used in the construction of kilns for drying copra. Used instead of brickwork or sheet metal because it allows a more even flow of air, when compared to using ventilation holes.^[4]

References

1. Ellis, Royston (2008). Maldives. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-84162-266-8. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
2. Chow, Cy; Thevasagayam, Es (1957). "Bionomics and control of Culex pipiens fatigans Wied. in Ceylon". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 16 (3): 609–32. PMC 2538306. PMID 13472415.
3. Atieli, Harrysone; Menya, Diana; Githeko, Andrew; Scott, Thomas (December 2009). "House design modifications reduce indoor resting malaria vector densities in rice irrigation scheme area in western Kenya". Malaria Journal. 8 (1): 108. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-108. PMC 2688520. PMID 19454025.
4. Grimwood, Brian E. (1975). Coconut Palm Products: Their Processing in Developing Countries. Food & Agriculture Org. p. 69. ISBN 978-92-5-100853-9. Retrieved 20 November 2024.