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
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
