Traditionally, banana leaves were used to wrap food in various cultural celebrations, for instance during rites of passage among members of the Meru community, but currently there has been a significant rise in demand for the product in Maua town and its environs.
The eco-friendly product is currently used to wrap miraa to preserve the freshness of the commodity before it reaches its various market destinations, hence the high demand.
The packaging solution, deemed to contribute positively to the economy of the area, is not only creating employment opportunities for the locals, but also minimising possible environmental degradation, majorly caused by the use of polythene papers.
Speaking to KNA in Maua town, one of the local banana leaves traders, Alice Muthoni, said gradually the product has gone beyond being used as a livestock fodder but a means of earning a livelihood.
This explains why men are also currently engaging in banana leaf business, unlike before when women dominated the scene.
A farmer and trader, Kobia Kirianki, revealed that he decided to venture into the thriving business after realising the huge returns his wife was getting from the trade for more than ten years.
Kirianki says that once banana leaves have been harvested, it only takes a few days, before another yield is ready.
He added that the prices vary according to sizes, noting that the largest leaf fetches about Sh30 to 40 per unit.
Meanwhile, all other sectors should embrace such eco-friendly products for packaging so as to minimise the use of plastic materials, which are hazardous to the environment.
By Kamanja Maeria and Mary Wairimu
