Bananas provide new textile opportunities

Between 50 and 70 percent of farmers in Uganda grow bananas, and the fibers of banana trees end up as waste material. Now the DKTE Textile and Engineering Institute of India will partner with Busitema University in Uganda to develop extraction technologies for banana fibers, which may have properties that will enhance textile products such as curtains, window blinds, tablecloths, bags, ropes and even garments. The research project will establish a pilot production facility to extract and process banana fibers, helping improve the profitability of banana farmers—many of whom are women. For more, visit www.busitema.ac.ug/index.php?q=dkte.