CIRCOT, Mumbai have developed Raspador machine for

extraction of fibre from banana pseudostem. After harvesting of

banana bunch, pseudostem can be used for extraction of fibre.

Cut pseudostem near the ground level horizontally and remove

all leaves. After removal of upper portion of pseudostem near

the first leave and lower portion slightly above sucker, it should

be split in to two halves using pseudostem cutter machine,

separate layers of sheaths by hand. Both sides of separated

sheaths are to be removed by sharp knifes because presence of

thin edges deteriorate quality of fibre. Sheaths are then cut to 3-

4 feet length to extract fibre. These separated sheaths are then

fed to Raspador machine by holding one end by hand. Beater of

the Raspador crushes the entire sheath and by pull back action

all scutcher fall down in tray placed below Raspador and we get

Name Of institute: Navsari Agricultural University

Stage of development: Ready to commercialize

Patent status: no

Scientific Experts:

1. Dr. R. P. Nachane

2. Dr. Shanmugam

3. Dr. R. G. Patil

4. Dr. J. M. Patel

Extraction of

Fibre Using

Raspador from

Banana

Pseudostem and

Preparation of

Non-woven fabricNon-woven fabric prepared from banana pseudostem fibre

is not available in the market

Technology Description

Background

Banana is one of the important fruit crops grown in most of the states

of India. Among the states, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka,

Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are the major banana growing

states contributing about 80 per cent of the total production. There is

good scope to get additional income from banana crop through

appropriate utilization of pseudostem, leaves, suckers etc. In this

direction, in some of the states, attemp are being made to utilize the

pseudostem, leaves and suckers for making the products like papers,

handicrafts, ropes, edible items etc., on very small scale which have

good economical value. CIRCOT, Mumbai (MS), MANTRA, Surat

(Gujarat) and J K Paper Ltd., Songadh (Gujarat) as the partners.

Benefits / UtilityFollowing value added products can be prepared from banana

pseudostem fibre viz., l Handicraft items and Rope l Yarn and fabrics

(woven and non woven) l Handmade papers l High quality papers l

Micro Crystalline Cellulose

Note: 1. Utilizing presently waste banana pseudostem for developing

Country ContextIndia: l Area under banana 7.1 lakh ha l Availability of pseudostem:

Ample (50-60 ton/ha) l Dry fibre available 600 to 800 kg/ha l Potential

natural fibre for preparing fabrics

Potential investors to this technical innovation

l Progressive Banana Farmers, l Textile Industry l Automobile Industry

l Acoustics Industry l Carpeting, Wall paneling industry

Scalability

Projections for production of banana pseudostem fibre and

preparation of non woven fabric: (A unit of five Raspador machines) l 1

pseudostem contains 200g of extractable fibre (27.2 t of fibre can be

obtained from 40 ha banana pseudostem) l Revenue realizable from

sale of fibre = 27200*120 = Rs. 32.64 lakhs l Fiber is used to make

nonwoven fabric, l Recovery 80%, cost addition due to processing

and transport = Rs. 50 per kg and marketing price= Rs. 250 per kg l

Business and Commercial Potential

Fiber is extracted from banana pseudostem using raspador which can

be used in making yarn and woven fabrics (R&D)Nonwoven fabric can

be used in acoustics, insulator in automobiles, wall panelling,

Dr. R.G.Patil

02637-292103, 98206 80579,

94290 57370, 98251 34993

rgp_swm@nau.in

FinancialsThe economics has been calculated cons ider ing, f ive raspador machines as one unit covering 40

Electrical power/

Diesel engine 25 KVA

UNIT PARAMETER

Land & Site

Number of shifts

Working days/year

Land required

-

1

150

5000 sq.ft.

MANPOWER

Managerial

Skilled

Unskilled

1

2

25

UTILITIES

COST

Facilities Rs.in(Lakhs)

Basic infrastructure

& facilities

Raspador (5 Nos.),

cutter m/c (one), etc.

Tractor with tailor etc.

Technical know-how fees

Manpower

Consumable (Pseudostem,

energy charges etc.)

Total cost of

fibre extraction (A)

Non-woven processing /

transport charges (B)

Total (A+B)

5.00

6.25

8.00

-

6.30

9.38

34.93

10.88

45.81

Product

Fibre

Fibre + Non-woven

Cost: Benefit

1: 2.06

1: 1.18

Breakeven time

2 years

1 year

Target Market / Customer l Farmers l Technical Textile Industry l Automobile Industry l Acoustics

Industry l Carpeting l Wall paneling industry

Limiting factors for large scale commercializationl To meet industry demand, there is need to establish network of fibre extraction units in banana growing areas l There is still scope for improving efficiency of existing machine

Social impact of the technologyl Waste management in eco-friendly way l Providing degradable

material (as a substitute of plastic)lIncrease in farmer's income l

Employment generation in rural areas