Banana fibre as self-employment boon

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry has taken measures to introduce Banana fibre based value-added production technology specially for the rural community to uplift their living standards, said Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda at a press conference held yesterday at the Information Department. The UNDP(South to South Program) provides technical and financial assistance for this project. The UNDP has initiated action to obtain the services of two Indian Experts in consultation with the Indian High Commission.

These experts will provide orientation, sensitization and technology transfer and help to share the experience of enhancing cottage based industrial research.

According to the statistics of the Agriculture Department, there are over 53 varieties of banana grown in Sri Lanka. In 2009/10 52,000 hectares yielded almost 35 million bunches of fruits. Large-scale banana cultivations are found in Kurunegala, Rathnapura, Moneragala, Hambntota, Kandy, Gampaha, Kegalle and Anuradhapura districts. Banana fibre which can be used to produce fabrics, hand bags, hanicrafts etc is going to waste as it is not been used for any industrial purpose. The Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Miistry has taken measures to encourage people to take it up as self-employment projects in support of the Divi Neguma program.