Introduction
The banana fiber is a widely used product in making coarse woven fabrics e.g. sacks, ropes, twigs, sand bags, tents, webbings, canvas and screens, kit bags, tool bags, luggage, gunny bags and covers. The fiber is extracted from the pseudo-stem of banana. Banana fiber can also be blended with wool and cotton for making blankets, carpets etc. The proposed project is for setting up a banana fiber making plant to utilize the products of the variety of banana plantations in Uganda. The project cost is US$ 4,325 with capacity of 46,800kgs per year, revenue estimates stand at US$ 93,600 annually and a net profit margin of 72%.Production Process
The production process starts with the extraction of the fiber from banana pseudo-stem. The process involves splitting of the banana pseudo-stem into strips, injection in open vats followed by washing and drying. By using traditional techniques, the fiber can be converted into various utility items. Production capacity is projected at 150kgs per day.
Capital Investment Requirement in US $:
| Capital Investment Item | Units | Qty | @ | Amount |
| Two roll crusher | No | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Drying chambers | No | 1 | 800 | 800 |
| Weighing balance | No | 1 | 25 | 25 |
| Cutting and splitting equipment | No | 2 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Open vat | No | 1 | 500 | 500 |
| Total | 4,325 |
Production and Operating costs in US $
(a)Direct material, supplies and costs
| Cost Item | Units | @ | Qty | Pdn cost/ | Pdn |
| Direct Cost | |||||
| Banana pseudo stem | Kgms | 0.03 | 321 | 8.01 | 208.3 |
| Chemical | Litres | 5 | 0.64 | 3.2 | 83.2 |
| Paper / Plastic roll stems | Rolls | 2 | 3 | 4.5 | 117 |
| Polythene bags/ sacks | packets | 0.4 | 3.2 | 1.33 | 34.65 |
| Other materials | – | – | – | 10 | |
| Sub-total | – | – | – | 17 | 453.2 |
General Costs (Overheads)
| Labour | 625 |
| Selling & distribution | 150 |
| Utilities | 250 |
| Rent | 350 |
| Administration expenses | 65 |
| Miscellaneous expenses | 150 |
| Depreciation | 163 |
| Sub-total | 1,753 |
| Total Operating Costs | 2,206 |
- Production costs assume 312 days per year with daily capacity of 150 Kgs.
- Depreciation (fixed asset write off) assumes 4 year life of assets written off at 25% per year for all assets.
- Direct costs include: materials, supplies and all other costs incurred to produce the product.
- A production month is 26 work days
- Currency used is US Dollars.
Project product costs and Price structure inUS $
| Item | Qty/day | Qty/yr | @ | Pdn cost/yr | UPx |
| Banana Fiber | 150 | 46,800 | 0.6 | 26,477 | 2 |
Profitability Analysis in US$
| Profitability Item | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 300 | 7,800 | 93,600 |
| Less: Production and operating costs | 39 | 1,018 | 26,477 |
| Profit | 261 | 6,782 | 67,123 |
Market
A wide range of products can be produced which enjoy good market in both rural and urban areas. It’s a potential boost to the tourism sector and economy as a whole since many tourists like these products.
Sources of machinery and Equipment
While the equipment can be sourced from China and India, they can be fabricated in Uganda by Tree Shade Ltd, Mwanga II Rd-Kisenyi Kampala, and John Lugendo &Co Ltd, Ndeeba Masaka Rd, email lugendojohn07@yahoo.com.
Government incentive
Uganda Investment Authority provides guidelines on investment and government incentives, tax holidays and security matters. Industrialists’ Associations are allowed in the formulation of government policies on taxes and industries, through Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) representation in budget making.
