Institute to make bags from fibre

Dec 08, 2005

THE Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) has started a project aimed at developing bags, papers and other items from banana fibre.

By Kiganda Ssonko

THE Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) has started a project aimed at developing bags, papers and other items from banana fibre.

The executive director, Dr Charles Kwesiga, said in an interview recently that they were working with a South African firm, Material Science and Manufacturing Unit, which is training three of UIRI employees.

“The banana stem and leaves technology development seeks to ensure that we set up a pilot plant to process banana fibre into paper, bags and other items and disseminate the technology to entrepreneurs,” Kwesiga said.

He added, “Paper making from banana leaves and stems can be a lucrative business in Uganda and its neighbours where the plant is grown extensively but for food only,”

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