The city-based Central Food Technological Research Institute has developed a waste-to-wealth model for banana cultivators, allowing them to convert waste into organic manure.
According to CFTRI director Ram Rajasekharan, it has been demonstrated with active participation of farmers at the institute. The institute stepped in following banana cultivators’ concerns of waste generated every harvest season.
The CFTRI proposed a waste-to-wealth model wherein waste generated in fields could be used for fibre extraction, stem juice production using CFTRI technologies and for vermi-composting. This model completes the sustainability cycle by bringing income to farmers, he said.
The model was demonstrated during a workshop involving banana farmers, processors and market players last week. The meet was intended to create a robust market value chain and to improve sustainability of farming, the director said. He shared an innovation roadmap for banana stem juice for sports beverage industries and possible products that can be made from banana fibre.
Banana farmers in theHadinaru region in Nanjangud taluk voiced their concern about waste generated during cultivation. Approximately 30 tonnes of waste were generated per acre in one crop season from the stem alone. To add commercial value to waste, students of the institute interacted with farmers of Hadinaru followed by the CFTRI proposal to convert waste into manure.
Fibre extracted from the stem can blended easily with cotton fibre or other synthetic fibres to produce blended fabric and textiles. It’s mainly used by the cottage industry in southern India. Banana fibre also finds use in high-quality currency paper, packing cloth for agriculture produce, ship-towing ropes, etc. The juice extracted from the stem has many medicinal benefits. The proposed model is expected to give substantial income per acre from banana stem waste with little capital investment, Ram said.
The CFTRI experimented with the model involving farmers and got 2 tonnes of waste stem to the institute where it did fibre extraction, stem juice and produced bio-compost.
Farmer groups, buyers and processors along with officials of Nabard and CFTRI technologists attended the workshop. The institute said it’ll work on establishing semi-processing units through farmers and SHGs with the support of the government and other agencies, transfer of technology to agri-enterprises, training and creating a network among them for good returns to farmers and growers.
Nabard AGM N Aravamudhan shared information on schemes and subsidies available to farmers from the rural bank.
Source: Times Of India