Guwahati: Boko MLA Raju Mech opened a new Common Facility Centre for banana products at Jawaharlal Nehru Autonomous College on Monday, August 3. This site serves as the fifth hub of its kind in the North East. It operates under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region, known as PM-DevINE. The project aims to boost livelihoods for growers in Boko, Chaygaon, Dudhnai, and nearby areas.
The center features heavy machinery to convert banana plant components into value-added goods. Workers will produce fiber-based yarn, textiles, and paper, alongside items from a dedicated bakery unit. The initiative targets sustainable industrial use of raw produce. North Eastern Council Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla and NECTAR Director General Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma attended the event. Dr. Sarma noted the potential of the sector, stating, "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."
Banana farming remains a backbone of the rural economy in Assam. While productivity trails the national average, the trade stays robust. Darrangiri holds the title of Asia's largest banana market. Officials hope this new plant shifts focus toward processing pseudostems into sustainable fiber for global fashion and biomedical markets. The PM-DevINE scheme launched in 2022 with a total budget of 6,600 crore rupees through 2026. This Central Sector program prioritizes infrastructure and social projects to support youth and women across the region.
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