Ahmedabad: Growing demand for eco-friendly clothing, especially in overseas markets, has led researchers in Gujarat to manufacture fabric from the banana plant’s stem. Surat-based Manmade Textile Research Association (MANTRA), Navsari Agricultural University (NAV) and Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR), Mumbai have initiated a project to produce commercially-viable textile from the banana plant.
Scientists working on the World Bank-funded project have already got partial success in manufacturing thick fabric suited for cold weather. They are also working on commercial viability of technical textile applications such as artificial leather, acrylic fabric for vertical blind and other types of curtains, bedsheets and tapestry. “Scientists have developed a modified spinning and weaving unit from traditional ones used for cotton value chain. Initial success has inspired them to work harder to produce lean fabric suitable for tropical weather,” said Arun Jariwala, president of MANTRA.
M G Parikh, a scientist at MANTRA said the project envisages to utilize waste banana pseudostems, which pose the problem of disposal and are available almost free in central and south Gujarat. The project includes creating facility for banana fibre extraction from the stem of the banana plant, cleaning, grading and converting it into a finished product, he said.
“Banana plant fibre is more eco-friendly than other natural and man-made fibres. We are working on blending it with cotton as well as synthetic fibres. These fibres can also be used for packing cloth for agriculture produce, ships towing ropes, wet drilling cables,” said R G Patil, NAU scientist.
According to experts, the real cost in producing fibres from the banana plant will be incurred while collecting waste stems and fibre extraction, which is negligible in comparison to the other natural fibres like cotton, jute and hemp. This cost competitiveness will fuel growth of this product. Gujarat ranks sixth in the area cultivation of banana in the country with more than 60,000 hectares. The state’s banana yield per hectare adds up to nearly 55 tonne while stem waste totals to nearly 80 tonne.
Scientists working on the World Bank-funded project have already got partial success in manufacturing thick fabric suited for cold weather. They are also working on commercial viability of technical textile applications such as artificial leather, acrylic fabric for vertical blind and other types of curtains, bedsheets and tapestry. “Scientists have developed a modified spinning and weaving unit from traditional ones used for cotton value chain. Initial success has inspired them to work harder to produce lean fabric suitable for tropical weather,” said Arun Jariwala, president of MANTRA.
M G Parikh, a scientist at MANTRA said the project envisages to utilize waste banana pseudostems, which pose the problem of disposal and are available almost free in central and south Gujarat. The project includes creating facility for banana fibre extraction from the stem of the banana plant, cleaning, grading and converting it into a finished product, he said.
“Banana plant fibre is more eco-friendly than other natural and man-made fibres. We are working on blending it with cotton as well as synthetic fibres. These fibres can also be used for packing cloth for agriculture produce, ships towing ropes, wet drilling cables,” said R G Patil, NAU scientist.
According to experts, the real cost in producing fibres from the banana plant will be incurred while collecting waste stems and fibre extraction, which is negligible in comparison to the other natural fibres like cotton, jute and hemp. This cost competitiveness will fuel growth of this product. Gujarat ranks sixth in the area cultivation of banana in the country with more than 60,000 hectares. The state’s banana yield per hectare adds up to nearly 55 tonne while stem waste totals to nearly 80 tonne.
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