Uganda: Banana fibre bags better packaging option
He has started showcasing his expertise in a technological innovation which churns out various products, including paper bags from banana fibres.
Atuheire, who is a researcher at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute, has been to India and Japan in his quest to get a cure for one of Uganda’s most pressing environmental problems.
He has also worked with a team of experts led by Professor Charles Kwesiga.
“We have done research on local banana varieties and it has proved that they contain suitable fibres for making paper bags,” says Atuheire, adding that this breakthrough research has been accompanied by simple technology that can be operated by rural youth and women.
Atuheire says this is not only promising to replace the environmentally unfriendly bags, but also provide employment in the cottage industries across the country, where banana growing is popular.
Unlike the plastic bags, paper bags from banana fibres decompose the moment they are exposed to environmental conditions such as moisture.
“If people take up this technology, then cutting of trees to make paper bags will also be minimised,” says Atuheire. He adds that commercialisation of the technology is the hurdle standing in their way.
Source: www.newvision.co.ug
