• Download the Constitution of Pakistan
  • Advertise
WRITE FOR US
Economy.pk
No Result
View All Result
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Life & Style
  • Health
  • World
  • Videos
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Life & Style
  • Health
  • World
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Economy.pk
No Result
View All Result
Home Entrepreneurship

Pakistani Scientists use Banana Waste to Create Fiber

by News Desk
December 23, 2021
in Entrepreneurship, Technology
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Scientists
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Scientists in Pakistan have started extracting fiber from banana waste in what textile industry hope could become an alternative to cotton.  

Banana fiber is one of the strongest natural fibers. Biodegradable and similar to bamboo fiber, it is made from the stem of the banana tree, which is mainly composed of cellulose. Sindh province is Pakistan’s main producer of bananas, contributing 80% of its yield — and tens of thousands of tons of waste as banana plants only give fruit once in their lifespan and the rest of the tree is discarded after harvest. 

Research on converting banana waste into biodegradable materials has been ongoing for a few years in countries such as Australia and Japan, but in Pakistan the project spearheaded by the Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam (SAUT) is a first. 

At SAUT we have recently started a pilot project to make valuable products out of banana waste. From banana waste we are producing products, including banana fiber and solid and liquid compost,” Prof. Dr. Inayatullah Rajpar, who heads the department of soil science at SAUT, told Arab News earlier this week. The recycling of waste will also help reduce pollution from banana farms. 

s either burnt or thrown away, contributing to environmental degradation,” he said. “This initiative will help farmers renounce the environment unfriendly practices and make money out of fruit waste.” When farmers lop off bananas from the trees, they generally leave the bulky, bulbous trunks to decompose and waste away. But under the SAUT project, strips of banana tree sheath are boiled in an alkaline solution to soften and separate them in order to produce fiber. Once separated, the fibers are joined together to create long threads, which later can be dyed or weaved.  

As fabrics made from banana fibers can be soft and substitute cotton, the country’s textile industry and farmers see potential in their production, and a chance to help the country reduce its import bill. Most of Pakistan’s cotton has been imported in recent years as production decreased. In 2019-20, Pakistan’s cotton harvest was the lowest in over three decades, and in 2020-21 the yield was down by nearly 30%. 

“Pakistan’s national annual cotton yield has come to half in the last decade or so during the last decade due to climate change and other factors,” says Hyderabad-based agriculturist Ghulam Sarwar Panhwar. As banana is a higher return crop than cotton, using its waste for fiber production would make cultivation even more profitable for all stakeholders.  

“For instance, one acre can produce Rs150,000 ($840) worth of cotton. In contrast, one acre can produce Rs200,000 to Rs300,000 worth bananas. Benefit from banana fiber would be additional for growers,” Panhwar said.  

Mustafa Bari, director of Bari Textile Mills Pvt, said while more research was required to estimate the potential of banana fiber in replacing cotton yarn, the project was promising as it would help the local textile industry meet international demand for sustainable, value-added produce on markets such as the EU.   

“Replacing of cotton yarn with banana yarn would add value to it,” he said. “Also, there are multiple potentials of banana waste like paper, fertilizer, etc.” 

Tags: latestTextile Industry
News Desk

News Desk

Related Posts

China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to Chinese space station – state media

China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to Chinese space station

China launched three astronauts to its now fully operational space station on Tuesday as part of crew rotation, the fifth...

OpenAI’s ChatGPT App Records 500K Downloads in Just 6 Days Since Launch

OpenAI’s ChatGPT App Records 500K Downloads in Just 6 Days Since Launch

OpenAI's ChatGPT iOS app has 500,000 downloads, making it one of the most popular apps on Apple's App Store in...

Karachi police all set to install number plate recognition cameras to issue digital challans

Karachi police all set to install number plate recognition cameras to issue digital challans

Karachi Set to Introduce Digital Challan System and Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras for Enhanced Traffic Management Karachi, the largest...

70 New IT Projects Started at Cost of Rs75bln: Amin-ul-Haq

70 New IT Projects Started at Cost of Rs75bln: Amin-ul-Haq

Federal Minister for IT Amin-ul-Haq expressed his unwavering determination to provide the youth with the best possible IT facilities, recognizing...

Neuralink Gets FDA Approval for Human Trials of Brain Implant

Neuralink Gets FDA Approval for Human Trials of Brain Implant

Neuralink has received approval from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to administer human trials of brain implants. Neuralink...

Electric taxis to hit Karachi roads this year, announces Sindh govt

Electric taxis to hit Karachi roads this year, announces Sindh govt

The Sindh government announced Wednesday the inauguration of an electric taxi service in Karachi. The taxi service will begin in...

Next Post
ECNEC

ECNEC gives nod to four projects costing Rs265b

Please login to join discussion

Recent Posts

  • China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to Chinese space station
  • Here’s How Bilawal and Bakhtawar was able to Watch ” Ainak Wala Jin” Before it’s Aired on Television
  • PM Sharif hopes Turkiye plays effective role in peace in Islamic world under Erdogan
  • IMF continues its engagement with govt: Porter
  • Pakistan won 14 Gold medals in Asian bodybuilding championship

Advertisement

Twitter

Economy.pk

Economy.pk is a source of economic, political, business, finance, health and sports updates.

Categories

  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Life & Style
  • Health
  • World
  • Videos

Privacy & Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

© 2023 Economy.pk

No Result
View All Result
  • VIDEOS
  • World
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Oceania
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Finance
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Real Estate
  • Technology
    • Cyber Security
    • Mobiles
    • Social Media
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Life & Style
    • Personalities
    • Art
    • Culture
    • History
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
      • Environment
      • Fitness
  • Sponsored

© 2023 Economy.pk