Bangladesh’s banana farmers could turn discarded banana stems into a source of income, as researchers estimate the waste could produce nearly 37,778 tonnes of banana fibre each year, creating a potential $94 million export opportunity. According to the study published in the Journal of Hunan University, titled ‘Unlocking the Potential of Banana Fibre Exports from Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Marketing Strategy Analysis ’, the country’s extensive banana cultivation leaves large quantities of pseudo-stems largely unused, even though they can be processed into fibre for textiles, packaging and paper. With global demand for sustainable materials growing, banana fibre could offer Bangladesh a new export product while creating employment in rural areas. But reaching this potential will require investment in processing, quality control, research and international marketing.
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