Centre inaugurates PM-DevINE-funded banana processing facility in Assam’s Boko

In a move aimed at strengthening value addition in Assam's agriculture sector, a Common Facility Centre (CFC) for banana-based products was inaugurated at Jawaharlal Nehru (Autonomous) College in Boko on Monday, August 3 under the Centre's PM-DevINE scheme. The facility, the fifth of its kind in the North East, is expected to enhance livelihood opportunities for banana cultivators across Boko, Chaygaon, Dudhnai and adjoining areas by promoting processing and sustainable industrial use of banana produce.

The facility was inaugurated by Boko–Chaygaon MLA Raju Mech in the presence of officials associated with the project and representatives from various government departments.

Established under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE), the Common Facility Centre has been equipped with specialised machinery to process different parts of the banana plant into value-added products. The unit will manufacture banana fibre-based yarn, textiles, paper and other eco-friendly products, while also housing a bakery unit that utilises banana produce.

Launched in 2022, the PM-DevINE scheme is a fully funded Central Sector initiative with an outlay of ₹6,600 crore for the 2022–26 period. The programme seeks to accelerate sustainable development across the North East through investments in infrastructure, social sector projects and livelihood generation, particularly for youth and women.

Banana cultivation remains an important contributor to Assam's rural economy, supporting livelihoods, agricultural diversification and trade. While the state's productivity remains below the national average, the sector continues to generate significant revenue through domestic consumption, exports and employment. Darrangiri, recognised as Asia's largest banana market, remains one of the key hubs driving the state's banana economy.

The newly inaugurated centre seeks to promote greater value addition by utilising banana pseudostems, from which banana fibre is extracted. The fibre is increasingly being used globally in textiles, paper, composite materials, fashion products and biomedical applications as an environmentally sustainable alternative to synthetic fibres.

Officials associated with the project said the Common Facility Centre is expected to create new opportunities for rural entrepreneurship, employment generation and sustainable industrial development by enabling local farmers and entrepreneurs to access modern processing infrastructure.

Addressing the gathering, NECTAR Director General Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma and North Eastern Council Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla highlighted the growing potential of banana fibre-based industries in strengthening Assam's rural economy and promoting sustainable manufacturing across the North East.