Banana Industry in Malaysia Group A

Information Sources Formal „ Internet (Google, Yahoo, Wiki) „ Matheo Patent, Matheo Web „ Books24x7, Ebrary „ Kartoo Informal „ S.M Sapuan (UPM researcher on banana) „ A. Leenie (UPM researcher on banana) „ M. Harimi (UPM researcher on banana) „ Y.K. Peng (UPM researcher on banana)

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Introduction: Some Fact on Banana „

Banana (Musa species) has a long history of cultivations dating back to 500 and 600 BC with depiction in Indian cave paintings and have been spread to east and west Africa and to Haiti.

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Compared to apples, bananas contain 4x protein, 2x carbohydrates, 3x the phosphorus, and 5x Vitamin A and Iron. It is also high in Potassium.

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Researches also show that bananas help prevent high blood pressure, and are ideal to persons with arthritis and peptic ulcer. It is also low in lipid, which makes it good for obese persons.

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The fore-runners of the modern banana cultivars are thought to be the diploid bananas (bananas with 2 pairs of chromosomes) M. acuminata and M.balbisiana. Both species are seeded inedible varieties. Intra-species and finally inter-species crosses resulting in infertile seedless cultivars were selected by local inhabitants and cultivated giving us the hybrids that we have today. (Robinson, 1996).

Banana Products „ „ „ „ „

Banana fruit (Global) Banana paper (Australia) Banana clothing (Philippines) Banana bandage (Pacific Islands) Other by-product: … … … … … … …

Banana fibre as a natural sorbent Banana fibre as a base material for bioremediation and recycling Banana fibre as a natural water purifier Banana fibre as a base material for the paper and pulp industry Banana fibre in the mushroom industry Banana fibre in handicrafts and textiles Banana fibre a licence to print money

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Producers of Banana and Economic Value of Banana #1

India:

11,000,000 metric tonnes

#2

Brazil:

6,339,350 metric tonnes

#3

Ecuador:

5,000,000 metric tonnes

#4

China:

4,812,530 metric tonnes

#5

Philippines:

3,560,800 metric tonnes

#21

Malaysia:

535,000 metric tonnes

Total:

55,221,871 metric tonnes

Weighted average:

1,150,455.6 metric tonnes

Malaysia Banana Scene „

In Malaysia, banana is the second most widely cultivated fruit, covering about 26,000 ha with a total production of 530,000 metric tonnes.

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About 50% of the banana growing land is cultivated with Pisang Berangan and the Cavendish type, and the remaining popular cultivars are Pisang Mas, Pisang Rastali, Pisang Raja, Pisang Awak, Pisang Abu, Pisang Nangka and Pisang Tanduk.

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Bananas are cultivated for local consumption by smallholders, and only about 12% of the total production is exported, mainly to Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong and the Middle East.

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Patent Search for Banana „

Listed over 11,000 patents on banana from all over the world: … Fiber

based innovation – clothing, paper, tissue … Banana fruit – preservation and packaging for transportation … Medicines based on banana … Cosmetics based on banana … Food based on banana

Focus on Banana Fiber „

Based on generic search of patents, the group decided to focus on banana fiber (as this seems to have more potential as most banana plantations do not utilize the banana trunk for anything after harvesting the banana fruit – most just burn them).

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Matheo Patent Result on Banana Fiber

Matheo Patent – Matrix of Inventors by Years

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Market Potential of Banana Fiber „

Process …

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Potential products …

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Trunk harvested, small pieces undergoes softening process, mechanical extraction of fibers, bleaching and drying (1 kg of stem = 100 g of fiber) Carpet, paper, bandages, clothing, packing materials

Potential market …

Global export (esp Japan, US, UK, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia)

Potential Competitors for Banana Fiber Industry „

Japan, Korea … High

technology … Active patent on banana fiber … Quality of products „

Philippines, India … Low

cost fiber extractors but is not main industry

Low-cost fiber extractor from India

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SWOT „

Strengths … …

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Weaknesses … …

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Not much expertise as yet in Malaysia for banana fiber extraction No patent held by Malaysia on banana fiber

Opportunities … …

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Produce 6.4 million tonnes of banana By-product of banana fruit cultivation (can get cheap)

Mainly use the fruit and ignore the trunk/ stem Existing local market

Threats … … …

Decreased banana production Increasing threat of diseases (particularly Fusarium wilt) Marketing issues (Malaysia just produce as food)

Strategy & Recommendation Propose to MARDI, FAMA to start cluster industry for banana fiber extraction „ Researchers to get technology transfer on method of extraction and uses of banana fiber „ Seminars for banana plantation owners „

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Add On: Banana Fiber 8 patents in France, Australia and Japan since 2001 on banana paper „ 1980-1990 – 1 patent in Japan ( banana fiber to produce kimono) „ 11 patents on banana fiber – Japan, China, France, Philippine (1987) „ In India - low-cost banana fiber extractor „

Thank You

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