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Extraction and Processing of Fibres from Kenaf, Banana and Plantain Stems for Agro – Sacks Produc Extraction and Processing of Fibres from Kenaf, Banana and Plantain Stems for Agro – Sacks Production

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This study centered on finding locally available and alternative material to imported Jute fibre and agro- sack for packaging and exporting Nigerian agro-products. The agro-sack industries in Nigeria have turn to the use of hydrocarbon/synthetic sack in packaging of indigenous agro-products like cotton, cocoa, onions, kola nut, palm kernel, potatoes, grain, sugar, coffee, cassava etc., which have led to it being rejected and the products bought at a discount rate at the international market, which have affected our gross domestic product ( GDP) and increased post-harvest food loss across the country due to poor material selection and inadequate packaging system. There is urgent need to explore the use of indigenous Kenaf fibre as alternative to Jute fibre and discourage the use of hydrocarbon/synthetic bags. Standardized process for Kenaf fibre extraction, quality evaluation of extracted fibre and standardizing fibre grade, chemical and anatomic microscopic properties, mechanical and optimal load caring capacities, yarn preparation and experimental weaving were evaluated from indigenous Kenaf fibre plant. Kenaf bast fibre compared well with Jute fibre in terms of fibre length range of 2.0-2.7 mm, 2.02-3.2 mm, fibre diameter; 17.7-21.1μm, 15.9-20.7μm, density; 0.98-1.2g/cm3, 0.99-1.3g/cm3, ash content; 0.6-2.35%,0.5-1,moisture content; 9.18-10.05%,17.0-12.5%, while cellulose content; 57.7-60.2%, 51-84%, lignin; 19.2-20.0%,14-29%, hemicellulose; 18.06-20.03%, 12-20%and tensile strength; 450.0-816.7 MPa, 393-800 MPa, elongation at break; 1.4-2.8 %, 1.6-1.8% and young’s modulus; 20-39.0GPa, 24-26Gpa for Kenaf and Jute fibres respectively. In the Nigerian scenario, Kenaf plant is being grown in over twenty (20) states of the federation including the state capital Abuja. It is established that Nigeria has potential of over one million hectares suitable for cultivation of Kenaf. The production of Kenaf assumed a national significance in Nigeria in 1960s when the federal government established two cottage factories to produce sacks/natural bags for packaging of agricultural produce (cotton, cocoa, palm kernel etc.) for domestic and international market (the Nigeria Fibre Industries Co. Limited –NIFINCO, Ibadan, and the ’Jute’ bag factory, Badagry, the Northern Nigeria Fibre Products Limited (NNFP) and Nigeria Agro-Sacks Company (NASCO)), Jos. The project failed and the factories closed down due to technical constraints. Following the closure of the two fibre factories in the country, farmers resorted to the use of synthetic/hydrocarbon bags for packaging agricultural produce, which contribute to post harvest food losses across the country, poor protection, reduced shelf life, health and environmental issues. However, the use of synthetic bags for packaging agricultural produce has been banned by the international committee on commodity exports effective in 1999, due to damage and negative effect on the quality of agricultural produce. A new array of hope is emerging for increase demand for natural fibres made bags and consequently kenaf in the country. This is happening alongside the renewed vigour by Nigerian government to expand production of certain crops (e.g. cocoa, cotton, onion etc) for export, which thus adds even to the domestic prospect of kenaf.  There is urgent need to make a policy on use of agro-sacks produced from Kenaf rather than imported Jute sack or hydrocarbon/ synthetic fibres (i.e. polypropylene etc.). Kenaf fibre agro-sacks improve air permeability and are suitable for haulage and storing agro-products.

 

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Created 2016-08-13
Changed 2016-08-13
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Created by Olakunle, Joel
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