Banana Stem products: Increasing income of local banana growers

Organized by Small Scales Industries Department under Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, the training course on production of banana fiber and stem products has been conducted to increase the income of local banana growers.

Naw Thein Thein Htay, AD, Small Scales Industries Department (Ayeyawady) said "Previously, banana growers only focus on trading bananas. Banana stems were also mainly used to cook some Myanmar traditional recipes. Now, we are trying to produce valuae-added products by using banana stems. Therefore, we conduct training courses related to banana stems products. The handicrafts using banana stems were very rare to be found previously. Now, some handicraft business owners buy banana stems from the growers to produce banana stem products. So, it can benefit both the farmers and the business owners as they can earn extra income from the by-products."

To develop the small scale businesses, the Small Scales Industries Department is conducting vocational trainings to educate the people for establishing their own businesses and creating job opportunities. The Department also do laboratory test of the products of food and household goods businesses to ensure the quality control and safety of the consumers.