Banana fiber training transforms Tikapur woman’s life, sparks local cloth production

Bhajani: Just two months ago, life was difficult for Jugrani Chaudhary of Tikapur Municipality-5, Kailali. Her family was dissatisfied with her work, which kept her busy with household chores but brought no income. The constant struggle left her mentally stressed.

Her life changed after she received 25 days of free training, recommended by a cooperative organization, along with a 50 percent subsidy on cloth weaving equipment. The training opened the door for Jugrani to join an enterprise. Today, she weaves raw cloth from banana fiber, spending her days productively.

“I couldn’t believe that waste banana plants (tham) can be used to make clothes, so I started weaving myself,” she said. “Nowadays, my family has also started believing in me. I feel that I am self-reliant.”

The Dhansinghpur Ekta Samaj Savings and Loan Cooperative Limited in Tikapur Municipality-8 has been training women to produce cloth from banana fiber. Eight cooperative members, including Jugrani, are now engaged in the enterprise, earning income and gaining confidence.

“Once they have the skills, there is no problem in earning money. The perspective of society is changing,” said Kamala Saud. “Yesterday, it was difficult to spend the day sitting at home, but today there is not enough time.”

The clothes woven by these women are sent to Kathmandu, where Allo Bazaar purchases them at Rs. 300 per meter. However, demand far exceeds supply. “There is a lot of demand in the market. We have not been able to reach a single company,” said Sakuntala Chaudhary of Ward No. 7. “Weaving is complicated and takes more time.” She believes production could increase significantly if modern machines were introduced.

The cooperative, which has been extracting fiber from banana stalks for the past two years, initially sold only the fiber. Now, it also facilitates the export of woven cloth. Cooperative manager Ramkrishna Chaudhary explained, “We have not had to pay for the raw material—the banana stalks—so far. The demand for fiber in the market is high, but we have not been able to meet it.”

The women involved in the enterprise are now seeking government support to expand production. They believe that with additional skills and modern machinery, they could diversify their products to include caps, bags, slippers, shoes, and more.

“Tikapur is known for its bananas. There is a basis for every citizen to become self-reliant from bananas,” said local resident Kamala Kumari Chaudhary. “We need investment. If the local government can provide similar training to other women, employment can be created on its own.”

Banana cultivation currently covers more than 1,000 hectares in Tikapur. By utilizing the banana stalks that go to waste after fruit harvesting, women like Jugrani are transforming discarded material into valuable fabric, paving the way for self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.