Manipur assistant professor Atom Annupama turns waste into wealth, builds green start up from banana fibre

Translating the knowledge gained from years of research, Dr Atom Annupama began a pathbreaking initiative to convert waste into wealth from banana pseudo-stems and, within almost a year, emerged as a successful entrepreneur.

Manipur has been grappling with conflict since May 2023, severely affecting the state’s economy and leaving many unemployed. Amid this critical situation, several young entrepreneurs have come up with innovative ideas to generate employment instead of becoming job seekers. Among them is Dr Atom Annupama, who launched her company, Chankorb Private Limited, in March this year.

Though one year is yet to be completed since the inauguration of Chankorb Pvt Ltd, it has already taken the lead in producing a wide range of eco-friendly products, including handloom and handicraft items, disposable plates and bowls, among others. At a time when the nation is aiming for self-reliance and Viksit Bharat, contributions by grassroots-level entrepreneurs like Annupama are significant.

In an interaction with India Today NE, Atom Annupama, who pursued her PhD in Biotechnology from Mizoram University, highlighted the untapped potential Manipur holds in utilising banana pseudo-stems for producing eco-friendly items, especially when the nation is striving to combat environmental degradation and achieve sustainable development goals.

Annupama, who also works as an assistant professor at Pravabati College, Manipur, said that as the state lies in a biodiversity hotspot, it is endowed with rich natural resources. In Manipur, as many as 30 different varieties of bananas are grown, both domesticated and wild. The bananas grown in the state possess qualities and characteristics suitable for producing value-added products such as banana fibre clothing and others.

She said her research findings recognised the immense potential of discarded banana pseudo-stems. This motivated her to convert academic research into societal benefit by launching Chankorb Pvt Ltd in 2025. The company is named after two indigenous banana varieties of Manipur, Chan (Musa balbisiana, also known as Changbi in Manipuri) and Korb (Musa acuminata, also known as Korbot in Manipuri). The startup was initiated with assistance from the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme, a flagship programme of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

“I applied for the BIG scheme in 2022 and was selected. Due to the ongoing crisis, I could not start immediately as the machinery provided under the scheme arrived only in late 2024. After successful installation of the machines and proper training of employees, operations officially began in March 2025,” she said, adding that the company currently employs 15 people, of whom 80 per cent are women.

Annupama, who holds two post-doctoral degrees, explained that fine-quality banana fibre is extracted and graded at the unit. The best fibres are used for weaving fabrics and textiles such as phi, phanek, kurta, pheijom and lengyan, including customised products. Second-grade fibres are used to create handicraft items such as bags, ropes and home décor, while third-grade fibres are used to produce disposable paper plates, ropes and other products. Additionally, liquid extracted from banana stems is used to produce bio-fertiliser.

She said that a lack of skilled banana-fibre weavers and logistical challenges remain major hurdles. However, with patience and resilience, she continues not only to produce items but also to impart training on weaving with banana yarn, travelling from village to village. She also spreads awareness about the significance of using clothing made from banana fibre yarn.

“In our state, people still prefer synthetic clothes over natural fibre clothes due to a lack of awareness. Despite this, we receive sufficient demand. From states like Bengaluru and Delhi, where awareness about natural fibres is higher, we get orders for handloom and handicraft items. Our company is still in its initial stage. Currently, we export our products through a business-to-business model and are trying to scale up to a business-to-customer model,” she said.

Annupama highlighted that clothes made from banana fibre yarn are comfortable, airy, breathable, washable and durable, making them suitable for both summer and winter.

“To convince people about the advantages of banana fibre clothing, we are in the process of obtaining certification,” she added.

Apart from producing value-added products from banana fibre, Annupama is also focusing on banana tissue culture to produce quality planting material free from pests and insects.

To upscale her company, she said training is being provided to weavers to equip them with skills required for weaving banana fibre yarn.

Expressing concern over promoting natural fibre products, she said anyone interested in producing natural fibre from pineapple can utilise her extraction machine. She added that instead of importing synthetic yarn or clothing, people can produce such items within the state by tapping into available natural resources.

(The story has been produced under the Award in Scientific Journalism Programme of CAU, Imphal. For further details, please contact Dr Indira Thounaojam, Information & Publicity Officer, CAU Imphal, at prmmcell@gmail.com)