Rising demand for banana fiber products in Kailali

Tikapur: The demand for handcrafted products made from banana fiber is increasing in Kailali, as the Dhansihpur Ekta Samaj Savings and Loan Cooperative Society in Tikapur Municipality-8 continues to expand its production.

The cooperative, which has been extracting fiber from banana stems for the past year, manufactures hats, bags, pen holders, clothing, and mats. According to Ramkrishna Chaudhary, the cooperative's manager, banana stems are collected free of charge from farmers, with one kilogram of fiber produced from about 10 stems daily.

"From one kilogram of fiber, we can make up to 15 hats," Chaudhary said. "Each cap is sold for Rs. 1,000, while pen holders are priced at Rs. 300."

Growing Market Demand
Despite high market demand, the cooperative struggles to meet production capacity. "There is significant demand from Kathmandu-based industries, which are requesting as much raw material as possible," Chaudhary added. "However, we are currently unable to supply as per demand."

The cooperative employs 10 women, with five regularly engaged in crafting fiber-based products for home decoration and daily use. These handmade goods have found a strong local market within Kailali.

Future Expansion Plans
The cooperative is also receiving requests to showcase its products at various fairs and festivals. Local officials believe that the waste material from banana fiber production could be utilized as organic fertilizer.

Ward No. 8 Chairman, Dirgha Bahadur Thakulla, revealed that efforts are underway to produce yarn for fabric-making. "If we can manufacture yarn, it will be highly beneficial," he stated.

Similarly, Tikapur-6 Ward Chairman, Baliram Chaudhary, emphasized the potential for expanding production due to the abundance of raw materials. "Tikapur is a banana pocket area, and banana stalks are freely available," he said. "More products can be made from these wasted stalks, and further investment should be encouraged."

Government Support and Employment Generation
Binod Shah, an officer at the Sustainable Development Society Bhajani, stressed that the government’s "One Cooperative, One Industry" policy should be utilized to connect farmers and women entrepreneurs with employment opportunities.

"Since this region specializes in banana farming, many women and farmers have benefited," Shah said. "It is a remarkable achievement that cooperative members are gaining employment opportunities through locally available resources."