Now, textiles from banana fibre!

The technology was already available in Japan and NRCB had held discussions with Nagoyo University in that country, in this regard, Prof S Sathiamoorthy, NRCB director, said.

He said fibres from certain banana varieties in the northeastern states were ideal for the purpose as they were the colour of ivory and were strong, shiny, long and thin.

The National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai, would be roped in for synergisation in Research and Development activities, he said. 

The NRCB would release a new variety, exclusively to produce quality fibres. Rhodochalamys, a rare variety from the Northeast, would be used to prepare the 'cross breeds'.

The new plant would not be more than one metre in height. He said value added products of banana fibre like jute bags and table coasters were very popular.

Strong ropes made out of fibre were also being used in the shipping industry. Sathiamoorthy said the NRCB was working on a technology for producing banana stem juice and juice-based beverages, since it had great medicinal value.

This was being done at the instance of an entrepreneur at Salem in Tamil Nadu on a contract basis and would be launched in two months. Once commercialized, it would be made available all over India.