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| Image courtesy : wikipedia |
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Profitable Value added products of Banana
The products can be divided into mainly three categories namely,(i)Plantain based products,
(ii) Banana based products and
(iii) Products from other parts of the plant.
Plantain based products
Banana chips
Even today, chips is the only processed banana product widely manufactured on commercial scale in India as well as Philippines. Banana chips/crisps are made by deep-frying of raw banana slices in a suitable cooking medium. ‘Nendran’ banana is widely used for preparation of banana chips. Very little quantities of cooking varieties like Monthan are also used in other parts of the country for chips. However, other varieties like Zanzibar or Mindoli can also be used for the purpose. Banana chips manufacturing have developed into a cottage industry in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu with an estimated quantity of more than 2.0 lakh tonnes of banana chips every year. It is totally under unorganized sector without any licensing. Major part of it goes for domestic consumption while little quantity is exported to gulf countries. Of late, the semi-ripe banana also is being used for making chips which have a sour-sweet taste.
Banana Flour
Banana flour/powder can be made from both ripe as well as unripe fruits of plantain and banana. Even, immature fruits of banana can be converted into flour that would form raw material for other value added products such as Banana baby food, health drink and soup mix which could fetch a premium price in the market. ‘Nendran’ is the best variety suitable for flour preparation. Banana flour is as intermediary product which can be used in preparation of several products like biscuits, cakes, bread, custard, chapathis, papads, baby food, health drink, etc. Banana flour has been made for export in Eucador, Colombia, Canada and Switzerland. Since long the powder is being exported to Gulf countries from Kerala.
Banana Flour based products - Baby Food, Health Drink and Soup Mix The best banana flour can be prepared from matured fruits of plantain. ‘Nendran’ rich in vitamin-A (beta-carotene) is the best variety for flour preparation. The flour prepared from the fruits is fortified with milk, green gram and sugar for baby food preparation, while in health drink preparation, chocolate powder, barley powders and sugar are added with banana flour. Soup mix involves mixing of banana flour, corn flour, dried vegetable and spices in various proportions. Moreover, male bud, a waste material can also be utilized as an ingredient in soup making. The Baby food is suitable for the growing children and the Health drink and Soup mix is for all the age groups. The products can be stored up to six months.
Banana based products
Banana fig:
Banana fig is a dehydrated banana product prepared from ripe fruit. ‘Karpuravalli’ is the best variety suited for fig-making although other sweet varieties like Neypoovan, Rasthali, Poovan (Palayankodan) can also be utilized. Banana fig can be eaten as such or can be incorporated as pieces in cakes, biscuits, payasam, kesari and ice-creams as a substitute for raisin. All the nutrients present in the whole fresh fruit is available in the concentrated form. As a readymade energy provider, it can be highly suitable for growing children, sports persons, trekking persons, army personnel and mountaineers. It can provide employment generation to rural population, particularly to women. The products can be stored up to three months with good taste. Ecuador is the leading producer of fig in the world.
Banana Wine
Banana wine is a delicious beverage with low alcohol content (12-14%). It is obtained by fermenting clarified juice with wine yeast for a period of 2 – 3 weeks at controlled temperature. The cost of production of banana wine is much cheaper than other fruit wines.
Banana Jam
In the market today, one cannot find jam exclusively made from banana. Banana, as an ingredient in mixed fruit jam is common. Hence, there is scope for jam if it is manufactured exclusively from banana. A jam is more or less concentrated fruit possessing a fairly thick consistency and body. It is also rich in flavour, because of ripe fruit having developed full flavour, which are used in its preparation. Pectin resent in the fruit gives it a good set. Appropriate combination of pectin, sugar and acid is essential to give a ‘proper set’ to the jam and to obtain T.S.S of above 68 0 Brix in the finished product. The product would be cheaper than any other jams available in the market. The product can be stored up to one yearwithout deterioration in quality.
Banana Sweet Chutney
Sweet chutney is a popular product mainly made from mango and sold extensively in northern India. Similarly banana sweet chutney is prepared by adding sugar, vinegar and spices to ripe pulp. Blending sweet and sour with spice is much preferred by north Indians. The chutney imparts very good taste with chappathi, dosa, idly, bread, samosa, etc., which also aids in digestion. It is suitable for all age groups and can be stored upto six months for better taste. It can generate rural employment, particularly for women.
Banana Leather (Bar)
The banana fruit bar, a confectionery item is prepared by drying ripe banana pulp with appropriate quantities of sugar, pectin and acid. Bar is a nutritious and tasty item, which can be popularized among children and adults. Many of the commercially available fruit bars (except mango leather) have only banana flavour (often artificial), pectin and sugar. A true fruit based banana bar would have a tremendous potential in the present scenario.
Products from other parts of the plant
Banana Flower Pickle (Thokku)
The banana male bud is a waste material produced during crop production with less economic value, which can be converted into a value added product by making pickle (Thokku). The process involves removal of pistil, chopping, blanching, grinding and addition of spices and oil by frying. The product is tasty and stable for a year at room temperature, however the best in taste up to six months. The technology can be adopted in banana growing regions of the country, where male buds are available in plenty. The product is suitable for all the age groups. The product is a creation of wealth from waste and is rich in dietary fibre with a high cost benefit ratio. It can be an ideal choice with idly, dosa, chappathi and with rice items. It provides employment generation to rural enterprise, particularly women.
Banana Central Core Candy and Pickle
Central core (true stem), a component of pseudostem is commonly used in kitchen for culinary preparations. The part is rich in dietary fibre and is believed to have the properties to dissolve the kidney stones. It can be converted into value added products namely Central core candy and pickle. Central core candy is obtained by slicing the stem and steeping the slices/discs in sugar syrup, followed by drying. Central core pickle is prepared by adding vinegar and spices to the slices of the stem. The product will be ready for consumption after allowing two weeks for curing.
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| Image courtesy : wikipedia |
Banana - Leaf industry
It is a customary practice in South India to serve food in banana leaf. Banana leaves are predominantly used by Hindus and Buddhists as a decorative element for auspicious functions, marriages and ceremonies in India and Southeast Asian countries. Indians also believe that banana leaf gives special taste to the food served on it. Banana leaf production has gained business status in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The annual turnover of the leaf industry is estimated to be around Rs. 130 million, approximately equivalent to the one-seventh annual turnover of banana industry. Currently, the annual turnover is estimated as Rs. 250 million. Use of banana leaves as biodegradable dining plates has both cultural and ecological significance. Banana leaf industry has become a source of livelihood for several marginal and small farming communities. Banana leaf production/ harvesting has become commercial venture for most of banana growers due to its continuous demand for leaves throughout the year and providing year-round sustained source of income for farming families and ability to balance the price-fluctuation faced by the farmers in fruit industry to a greater extent and applicability to adopt varying production systems. There are no commercial varieties/cultivars available exclusively for leaf production.Till-today, commercial varieties/ cultivars such as Poovan, Monthan, Peyan, Sakkai and Karpuravalli are exploited for leaf purpose in addition to dual utilities as dessert and culinary. In recent times, banana leaves are exported in bulk and the demand is on rise. Hence, there is a need to evolve cultivar specific for leaf industry in near future to meet the growing demand in the domestic as well as international markets and to develop techniques to preserve the green leaves and drying
techniques as well.Banana Fibre
It is a concept of ‘converting the waste into wealth’. Banana produces a lot of biomass, which is re-circulated into the soil for enrichment and in most cases, it goes as a waste. Fiber is a non-edible product obtained from the sheath of pseudostem of banana plant, which yields high quality fibre. With multifarious utilities of banana fibre, it can be an additional source of income for banana ferments. While the coarse fibre is used for tying garlands, the fine fibre is used for making handicraft items and textile fabric. Banana fibre can be extracted manually or by using fibre extraction machine (Decorticator). A wide array of handicraft items made from banana fibre are bags, table mats, wall hangings, tea coasters, photo frames, etc. Other uses of banana fibre are making products like marine cardages, high quality currency papers, cardboards, tea bags, string threads and fabric material.
Food processing industry is a fast expanding sunrise industry in India and success of banana industry lies with product diversification and value addition. There is a need for diversification of banana industry through agro-processing and value added products of exportable quality. Changing lifestyles, food habits, organized retail and globalization will certainly give boost to this sector in the years to come, particularly for processing units. There is great scope for diversification of banana and plantain fruits into various value added products and also wealth from waste materials like banana pseudostem, central core and flower. Ministry of Food Processing and National Horticulture Board, Government of India is providing many schemes and financial assistance to encourage and setting up of new units and modernization of existing units. Product development will create additional rural employment and also improve the nutritional and livelihood security of banana producers and consumers.
source:agriculture today yearbook 2012
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