Various products are being made of yarns that are made from the bark of discarded banana plant in Patachora village under Damurhuda upazila of Chudanga district.
These products have a great demand in the country and these are being exported abroad as well.
The banana tree-fiber from discarded banana plants are being used to make these yarn. Then the yarn is used to make the environment-friendly products. Several hundreds of unemployed people have found work through this initiative.
It was learnt that, Shahin Ali, an agricultural entrepreneur, is making various environment-friendly showpieces and products including boats, wall mat, flower vase, cap, hurricane lamp, door mat, table mat and bag. A small cottage industry has developed in the village centering the products made from the banana plant yarns. These products are drawing people’s attention. They are being used in some government offices. People are using these products to decorate their houses as well.
Shahin Ali is selling these products not only in local markets, but he is exporting them also in foreign countries. More than one hundred men and women are working in this small cottage industry now. They are trying to change their fate through this initiative. An association was formed as well with the people who were trained to make these products.
Patachora village is located 16 km away from Chuadanga district town and 7 km away from Damuhuda Upazila town. Shahin Ali, a youth of this village, had interest in using environment friendly products from his childhood. Almost two years ago, he saw a video on Facebook and learned about making yarns from banana plant. He planned to make yarns from banana plant and bought a yarn machine for that purpose. Then he collected barks of discarded banana plants from banana orchards of his village. After that, he made yarns from the barks using the yarn machine.
After making yarns for several days, the idea of making products from these yarns came to his mind. To make products from the yarns, at first he washed them and dried them in the sun. He also made vermi-compost from the wastes of the banana plants after using the barks. At first, he started to make these products with the help of the women in his household. Later, other men and women from the village also joined in it. At present, hundreds of women including widows, divorced and disabled people, are working with him. They make these products and store them in their association. Then these products are sold from there. Moreover, Damurhuda Upazila Department of Youth Development arranged training programme to train these people.
The men and women who are making these products said they are making a good profit out of it. Sample of these products were sent to Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation. They are receiving orders from outside the district town too. However, they are facing problems to supply these products due to lack of manpower and finance and they are asking for government loans on easy terms.
While making these products in their yards, housewives of the area, Hiramoni, Ratna Khatun and Runa, and college student Papiya Khatun, said that they took training from Upazila Department of Youth Development and started making products from banana plant yarns. They have become self-dependent by doing that.
Shahin Ali said they are making various products including door mat, totes, vanity bags, wall mat, showpiece and ornaments from banana plant yarns. Moreover, vermi-compost is produced from the wastes. He said he can make more employment opportunities with the assistance from the government and the unemployed people can become self-dependent with that.
Nasrin Khatun, trainer of the Upazila Department of Youth Development, said that they are training the poor and helpless women, along with college students to make them more competent. They are making various good quality products from the banana plant yarns after taking the training. They have arranged the training programme so that they can make standard quality products.
Agricultural Officer of Damuruda Upazila Sharmin Akhter said Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension is helping agricultural entrepreneur Shahin Ali from Patachora village as his initiative will help people of many villages to become self-dependent. Many unemployed women will achieve financial success by working there. The primary material of these products is yarns made from banana plants. Because of that, they are inspiring the farmers of the village to cultivate banana more and more. Moreover, they arrange training programme for those who are making these products so that they can make better product and make more profit. She also said that they are trying to export them to Spain, France, Qatar and other countries along with selling these products in local markets. They are sending these products through courier service. If they get more order from these countries, they will send more products.
