FROM BANANA FIBERS TO RICE SACKS

FROM BANANA FIBERS TO RICE SACKS

Sometimes, opportunities are right under our noses—and yet we can’t even smell them. That seems to be the case with the millions, perhaps billions, of banana trunks that we have wasted over the years.

I call them trunks because, technically, a banana is not a tree; it’s an herbaceous plant. But regardless of what we call it, one thing is clear: we have been throwing away what could have been a valuable source of livelihood. For decades, after harvesting the fruits, we simply chopped up the banana trunks and left them to rot—or at best, used them as compost.

Now, it turns out, those same trunks could be spun into gold—well, almost.

Who would have thought that we could still make money from banana trunks? Yet here we are, finally realizing that these so-called wastes can be transformed into something useful and sustainable: rice sacks made from banana fibers.

A Case of Learning Too Late

We should have seen it coming. After all, products have long been made from abaca, a close relative of the banana plant. Abaca fibers are famous worldwide for their strength and durability—used in ropes, specialty papers, and even automobile parts. If abaca could be turned into export-quality material, why not bananas?

And indeed, innovators and researchers have begun proving this point. Banana trunks, once seen as farm waste, can now be processed into strong, flexible fibers ideal for weaving sacks. These banana fiber rice sacks are not only durable and water-resistant but also biodegradable. Once they wear out, they can simply return to the soil—unlike plastic sacks that linger in landfills and rivers for decades.

From Waste to Wealth

The process is refreshingly simple. Farmers extract fibers from banana trunks using hand tools or small machines. The fibers are then dried in the sun and woven on traditional looms. The finished product can be reused multiple times, and when it reaches the end of its life, it decomposes naturally within weeks.

Communities in Mindanao and Luzon have already started adopting this technique. Some cooperatives even print the sacks with plant-based dyes and local branding—turning them into not just practical packaging but also a symbol of sustainable innovation.

Imagine what could happen if every barangay that grows bananas turns its waste trunks into sacks, bags, or handicrafts. Not only would it create local jobs, but it would also help reduce our dependence on imported plastic packaging.

But Who Will Lead?

Here lies the next big question: which government agency should take the lead in scaling this up?

Should it be the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its research councils? The Department of Agriculture (DA), since banana farmers stand to benefit directly? Or perhaps the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PHILFIDA), since it already manages abaca and other fiber industries?

Another strong candidate is DOST-PCIEERD—the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development. This agency has been at the forefront of developing and commercializing new technologies through programs like CRADLE and SETUP. PCIEERD could easily fund research and help small enterprises process banana fibers efficiently, especially through its Science for Change Program.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) could take care of the marketing and product promotion side, helping communities form cooperatives and link up with institutional buyers.

And why not bring in the National Food Authority (NFA) as a ready market for these sacks? If the government commits to buying locally produced, biodegradable rice sacks, that alone could jumpstart the industry.

The Bigger Picture

Globally, banana fiber is gaining recognition as one of the most sustainable materials available. Countries like India and Nepal have already established small industries around it, producing textiles, ropes, and paper. In Japan, luxury brands have even experimented with banana fiber fabric.

The Philippines, with its abundant banana plantations, could easily join—or even lead—this movement. Instead of exporting raw fruits and importing plastic, we could export finished banana fiber products while keeping our environment clean.

And let’s not forget: anyone can plant bananas. Even backyard growers could earn a little extra by selling their discarded trunks to processors. This makes it an ideal livelihood project for cooperatives, women’s groups, and rural microenterprises.

A Call to Action

So, who will smell the opportunity this time? Will our policymakers see that “waste” is just a resource waiting for imagination? Or will we once again let another sustainable innovation slip by because of bureaucratic inertia?

If we can turn fallen leaves into paper bags, why not banana trunks into rice sacks? The science is there, the raw materials are plenty, and the environmental benefits are undeniable.

All we need now is leadership, coordination, and vision. The money, as they say, is right under our noses—this time, inside a banana trunk.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres

iseneres@yahoo.com, senseneres.blogspot.com 03-11-2026