The Banatex-EA project at Busitema University is refining banana stems that farmers usually discard to produce a spinnable banana fibre. The work aims to offer an alternative to cotton and some synthetic materials for textiles, hair extensions and sanitary pads. The project is led by Edwin Kamalha, a lecturer and head of the Department of Polymer, Textile and Industrial Engineering at the university.
The team received UGX175 million from the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology and an additional A3600,364 from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through the SMEP programme. National Agricultural Research Laboratories tested varieties and found the indigenous Musa or Kayinja variety gave stronger, shinier fibre and higher yields during extraction.
Technically, the fibre is naturally stiff and coarse, so researchers developed ways to soften it for spinning. The project works with textile producer TEXFAD to commercialise products and with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards to set quality standards. Market and legal hurdles include an unpassed biotechnology bill, missing international product identifiers such as HS codes, mixed consumer acceptance and high production costs. Partners are studying market potential with Moi University in Kenya, while industry figures express cautious optimism. An update on 29 July 2025 corrected an error in the naming of the funders.
Difficult words
- refine — improve by removing unwanted partsrefining
- spinnable — able to be made into textile thread
- fibre — long thin material from plants or animals
- indigenous — native to a particular place or region
- extraction — process of taking out a substance
- commercialise — sell or make a product widely available
- standard — agreed rules for quality and measurementstandards
- hurdle — problem that blocks progress or successhurdles
- biotechnology — use of living things in science and industry
- identifier — code or number that shows what product isidentifiers
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Discussion questions
- Do you think banana fibre products could replace cotton in your country? Why or why not?
- What steps could the project take to lower high production costs? Give one or two ideas.
- How might customers react to hair extensions or sanitary pads made from banana fibre? Explain your opinion.
