§1What this business is

Dried banana sheath is cut and threaded, plaited, dyed, dried, arranged and wrapped into designs on a weaving frame to make table mats. It turns farm waste from banana plants into handicrafts. Buyers are handicraft shops, home-decor stores, gift buyers and online shoppers.

Capacity: 160 table mats a day (10-hour shift); the plan runs at 50% in year 1.

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

Artisans, self-help groups or entrepreneurs in banana-growing districts with craft and design skills.

Who it is not for

Someone wanting a machine-driven, high-volume business.

Advantages

  • Uses banana plant waste — only about 10% of the pseudo-stem is used now, says the report
  • Very low tool cost
  • Eco-friendly products with gift and export appeal
  • Suits women's groups and home-based workers

Drawbacks

  • Mostly hand work, so output per worker is limited
  • Fibre extraction by hand gives low yield
  • Design and finish decide price
  • Sales are uneven — fairs and seasonal gifting

Skills you need

  • Plaiting and weaving banana fibre
  • Natural dyeing
  • Product design
  • Selling at fairs, shops and online

Why difficulty 2/5: Low cost and simple tools; craft skill and marketing decide the income.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Home-decor and handicraft shops
  • Gift and corporate buyers
  • Online shoppers
  • Hotels and restaurants

How it sells

  • Craft fairs and exhibitions
  • Handicraft emporiums
  • Online marketplaces

Good to know

  • The report says banana fibre is used for mats, ropes, bags, sarees and wall hangings, and may grow in textiles and car interiors.
  • It estimates about 2.1 lakh tonnes of fibre a year could be extracted if all banana plants were used.

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Scissors—₹1,500
Weaving frame—₹4,500
Clippers—₹20,000
Measuring tapes—₹14,000
Rubber mat—₹10,000

From: PMEGP sample project report — Banana Fibre Craft (table mat unit) (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

  • Dried banana sheathfrom banana farms; only about 10% of the pseudo-stem is used today, says the report
  • Rubber mat, thread, dyes and saltbase, binding and dyeing materials

From: PMEGP sample project report — Banana Fibre Craft (table mat unit) (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

§5Licences & registration

  1. Udyam registration
  2. GST registration if turnover crosses the limit
  3. Artisan identity card from the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) — useful for fairs and schemes
  4. Trade licence from the local body

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

PMEGP (the report was prepared for it), MUDRA up to ₹20 L and CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Civil work ₹5.00 L + furniture ₹1.50 L + working capital ₹3.76 L = ₹10.26 L. The tool list (₹50,000) is printed separately and is not in this total.

Working capital: Working capital ₹3.76 L in the project cost (bank working capital ₹3.39 L): 10 days of sheath and 10 days of finished mats.

Year not printed on the report — check current machinery and raw-material prices.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Export council / board: EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts)

  • The project report prints no HS code; look up the 8-digit ITC(HS) line on the DGFT website or with a customs broker before exporting.
  • You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Uneven demand
  • Quality variation in hand-made goods
  • Mould on fibre in damp storage
  • Low prices from middlemen

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working banana fibre craft (table mats) unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration if turnover crosses the limit), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect

§12Watch

There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.

Want to start Banana Fibre Craft (Table Mats)?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. PMEGP sample project report — Banana Fibre Craft (table mat unit) (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.