ABSTRACT
Banana is one of the most well known and useful plants in the world. All most all the parts of his plant, that are, fruit, leaves, flower bud, trunk and pseudo stem can be utilized. Approximately 30 tons of waste was generated per acre in one crop season from the stem alone.
We deal with the “ZERO WASTE MANAGEMENT OF BANANA PLANT”.
We extract fiber from the pseudo stem of the banana plant. Banana fiber has emerged as a new eco-friendly innovation, since it is produced from the stem which is a waste material after harvesting the fruit. Banana fiber is used to make currency paper, bond papers which can last more than 100 years. In handicraft it is used extensively for making bags, purse, mobile phone covers, table runners, door mats, curtains and yoga mats etc…We can do both edible and non edible products from the banana plant. In edible part we do pickles from stem and flower chutney powder, stem juice, candy and jam etc… In non edible part fibers are used to make handicrafts, and the solid waste obtained while extracting fiber can be used as vermi-compost and liquid waste as fertilizer.
Introduction
Banana is the second most important fruit crop in India next to mango. If there is one fruit that is most grown and eaten year-round in India, it is the humble banana. India’s festivals feasts and religious rituals are incomplete without the banana.
Its year round availability, affordability, varietal range, taste, nutritive and medicinal value makes it the favorite fruit among all classes of people. It has also good export potential. Banana is grown in about 120 countries. Total annual world production is estimated at 86 million tones of fruits. India leads the world in banana production with an annual output of about 14.2 million tones.
India, being a largest producer of banana creates huge amount of bio-mass waste every year. However, this available waste can be utilized in broader ways by proper utilization, efficient recycling and their management which could be beneficial for farmers, innovators, entrepreneurs and small scale industries as it generate employment and source of income for them by manufacturing of commercial products.
Management of Waste
Banana pseudostem
- Fibers obtained from the pseudostem have been used as raw materials for textiles industries in the production of traditional handicrafts items.
- High valued paper, paperboard and fiber can be produced.
Banana inflorescence
- Traditionally, inflorescence of banana used as food and medicine
- It is useful in curing bronchitis, dysentery, ulcers and in diabetics.
Banana Leaves
In India, banana leaves have been used since ages in temples for religious offerings to god to being used as a serving plate at restaurants and also using it as a wrapper for steamed food preparation.
Zero Waste Management
After the harvest of banana the plant is a waste so the question is now
how to manage the waste?
Methodology
Fiber Extraction
Fiber is extracted from the outer bark of the banana stem and using that fiber handicraft can be made.
Edible Products
From the inner core of the stem juice can be extracted, pickles, candies, jam etc… can be prepared.
Organic fertilizers come from composting organic compounds mediated by microorganisms, improving soil quality and providing nutrients to crops, thus reducing chemical fertilizer use and the undesirable polluting factors production.
Implementation
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Raw Materials Required
The main raw material for the unit is banana stem.
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- Cost of banana stem
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- 10 Rs / stem
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- Miscellaneous Items
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- 5 Rs / stem
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- Total Cost
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- 15 Rs / stem
1k fiber = 5stems required
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Machineries
The main raw material for the unit is banana stem.
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- Cost of banana stem
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- 1 machine
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- Handloom Machine
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- 2 machines
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- Charaka
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- 1 machine
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Infrastructure
The major infrastructure required are
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- Covered area
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- 1200 sq. ft
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- Power
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- 5KW
Capital required
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