I have grown up hearing about the banana plant’s versatility and that every part of it is useful. From using the leaves as serving plates to the stem, flower, and fruit, all are edible. The only waste generated from a banana farm is the two outermost layers: the sheaths of the banana stem. Typically, these are either burnt or dumped as garbage.
But PM Murugesan, a resident of Melakkal village in Madurai district, almost two decades ago, found a way to use this residual banana fibre to weave them into ropes. These could then be used to make various products like mats, bags, etc. In this exclusive interview with The Better India, Murugesan, founder of M S Ropes Production Center, speaks about his journey, setting up a company, winning awards and accolades, and having a machine patented by him.
Finding treasure in trash
Even though Murugesan could not complete his education beyond class 8 because of his family’s poor financial…