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Banana is a fast growing and high biomass-yielding plant.

India is the largest producer of banana next to mango.
The major banana producing states are
Each individual fruit (known as a banana or 'finger') has a
protective outer layer (a peel or skin) with a fleshy, edible inner
portion.
Both skin and inner part can be eaten raw or cooked.



Introduction
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FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY
Banana pseudostem products
Tender banana stem is generally used as a vegetable and has
high medicinal values. Sweet candy is prepared from tender banana
pseudostem.
Sweet candy
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Ingredients needed
Banana (tender) stem slices- 500g, Sugar- 1500g, Citric acid- 3g
Potassium meta bi sulphite- 0.5g.
Method
1) Tender fresh banana stem is sliced (4mm thick) and soaked in 0.25
per cent citric acid solution to prevent browning (1:2 ratio).
2) The slices are softened by pressure cooking for 20 minutes and
again soaked in solution containing 0.25 per cent citric acid and 1.0
per cent calcium chloride for 30 minutes for firming (1:2 ratio).
Contd
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3. The softened banana stem slices are allowed to soak overnight in
the sugar syrup.
4. The slices are removed from the syrup on the second day another
75 per cent of sugar is added to the syrup and boiled.
5. The partially soaked banana stem slices are again added into the
syrup (cooled) and kept for overnight for the penetration of sugar
into the slices.
6. The procedure is repeated for 3-4 days.

Contd
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7. During the fourth day citric acid is added while boiling the sugar
syrup and cooled.
8. Potassium meta bi sulphite is added to the syrup and mixed before
adding the slices.
9. The banana stem slices are allowed to soak for 7 days in the sugar
syrup for the maximum sugar penetration into them.
10. The slices are removed from the syrup washed with warm water to
remove the surface sugar syrup coating and dried at room
temperature.
11. Powdered sugar is sprinkled on the partially dried slices to remove
surface moisture (maximum).

Contd
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Paper industry:
In this modern age, the consumption of paper and boards has
increased tremendously. Conventionally, paper is manufactured from
cellulosic materials like bamboo, hardwood, cotton rags, etc.
Agricultural residues of non-woody nature like cotton stalks, wheat
straw, rice straw, sorghum stalks, hemp, jute, etc., are possible raw
materials which could be used for paper and board making
However, all these require to be digested at high temperature and
pressure, employing energy consumptive and costly processes.
Thus the search for other raw materials and cost effective processes
continues.





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Banana Fiber is extracted from Banana tree bark.
The trunk is peeled.
Brown-green skin is thrown away retaining the cleaner or white portion
which will be processed into knotted fibers.
The fibers are extracted through hand extraction machine composed of
either serrated or non serrated knives
The peel is clamped between the wood plank and knife and hand-pulled
through, removing the resinous material
The extracted fibers are sun-dried which whitens the fiber.

Banana fiber extraction
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Manual extraction of Banana fibre Coarse banana fibre & livelihood
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This fiber is then used for making various products in attractive designs
of various sizes.
Coasters
Table Mats
Bags
Runners
Floor Mats
Home Furnishings

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Products made by banana fibre
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Agro waste utilization
Banana peels and beet waste are readily available agricultural
waste, yet they seem to be under utilized as potential growth
medium for local yeast strain, despite their rich carbohydrate content
and other basic nutrients that can support yeast growth.
The indigenous yeast with good fermentation attributes, which may
enhance ethanol yield and minimize cost of production, could be
obtained from ripe banana peels.
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Animal feed
Large quantities of reject bananas are often available for animal
feed, especially in banana exporting countries.
Both cattle and pigs relish ripe bananas, but as an animal feed,
bananas are mainly used for feeding pigs.

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Because they contain vitamin A, bananas and plantains act as an aid
to digestion, and it is reported that boiled, mashed ripe fruit can be
good for constipation, especially when mixed with other
recommended plants.
The juice from the male bud provides an apparent remedy for
stomach problems in people of all ages, while there are reports of
the ripe fruit being used in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis.
Medicinal
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The pounded peels of ripe bananas can be used to make a poultice for
wounds and, as the inside of the peel has anti-septic properties it can
be wrapped directly around wounds or cuts in an emergency.
In Nigeria, a weaning food based on plantain and soybean has been
developed which is nutritious for babies and can be used as a
therapeutic diet for the treatment of malnutrition and kwashiorkor, which
results from protein deficiency.
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The large leaves of bananas and plantains
are put to a diversity of uses.
They make ideal green umbrellas and are
frequently used as disposable plates.
The use of banana leaves as a biological
plate for serving food has gained such
popularity in Southern India
Use of Banana leaves
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There is a good market demand of all banana products. There is an
ample of new local market growing in India. Most of the banana product
manufacturers are in the small scale sector.
The government of India has set up a separate full-fledged ministry
named Ministry of Food Processing Industries for the development and
promotion of food processing industries.
Tender banana stem is generally used as a vegetable and has high
medicinal values. Sweet candy is prepared from tender banana
pseudostem.
This fiber is then used for making various products in attractive designs
of various sizes. Coasters, Table Mats, Bags, Runners, Floor Mats and
Home Furnishings. Large quantities of rejected bananas are often
available for animal feed, especially in banana exporting countries.
Let Us Sum Up
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