Development of a Low-Cost Banana Fiber Extractor

Banana fiber is an underutilized natural resource with potential for industrial applications and value addition at the smallholder farm level. Traditional manual methods for extracting fibers from banana plant wastes are inefficient and labour-intensive. This limits opportunities for rural communities in Africa to commercialize banana cultivation. The study aimed to address this challenge by developing an affordable and effective mechanized solution for extracting banana fibers tailored to small farms. Key design considerations included ease of operation, portability, durability, and optimization for a single operator. Fabrication using basic workshop tools demonstrated technical feasibility. Structural…