In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable practices, a fiber revolution is underway, turning what was once considered waste into textile gold. This groundbreaking transformation involves harnessing the potential of banana peels, a byproduct often discarded without a second thought. Through innovative processes, researchers and eco-conscious pioneers are extracting fibers from banana peels and weaving them into a versatile and eco-friendly textile.
This not only reduces waste but also offers a sustainable alternative to traditional textiles, diminishing the environmental impact of the fashion industry. The result is a weaving of natures bounty, where banana peels, once destined for the trash, are now becoming an integral part of the fabric of a more sustainable future.
According to Dr. Abdul Jabbar, dean of the Textile Institute of Pakistan, banana peels and other alternatives, such as corn fiber, provide the global textile industry with the 20% of fiber it needs. However, this vital raw material is burned in Pakistan.
Economists, progressive farmers, agricultural professionals, and researchers have all asked for increased investment from non-traditional sources, such as bananas, to increase cotton yields because the crop was not producing enough raw materials for textiles to fulfill the nation needs.
During the opening ceremony of the fifth annual Banana Festival 2023, which took place on Monday, the Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) in association with the Agri-Tourism Development Corporation, Tech-Saeein, Mishal, PAR, MH Panhwer Farms, Durrani Farms, and FAO made these remarks.
They claimed that the industry lack of investment was the reason behind the drop in agricultural output. Agriculture has been the only industry in the nation for more than a century where commission agents, not farmers, determine commodity rates.
Speaking at the event, SAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri stated that although precious banana trash can produce a variety of byproducts such as fiber, compost fertilizer, confectionary, and cosmetics, it is burned annually for about 3.5 million tons.
In the interim, we will become a member of the World Banana Forum. He proposed that a Banana Research Group be established, with farmers, the public, commercial, and industrial sectors, and research institutes included.
A large tissue culture lab for resistant banana, date palm, and other fruit plants can be established by SALU, SAU, and other research institutes, according to Dr. Khalil Ahmed Ibupoto, VC of Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) Khairpur Mirs. With this, "we can meet the existing demand for disease-free tissue culture plants."
Sufism and Modern Sciences University Vice Chancellor Dr. Parveen Munshi of Bhit Shah stated that there is a great deal of potential for value chains in agriculture in the commercialization period, such as the value chain and marketing of bananas and mangoes.
