The Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) in Gujarat has
standardised a process of manufacturing high value paper from
Banana fiber, which it claims has the property of making
currency notes lasting for about a century. The paper has been
tested in the Central Institute for Research on Cotton
Technology. During the research, it was found that paper made
out of this fiber has shelf life of over 100 years as it is the
strongest of the long fibers ever found amidst natural fibers.
It can be folded for as many as 3,000 times. According to Dr B N
Kolambe, a scientist at Navsari Agriculture University this
fiber has the potential to find application in making of the
paper required for the printing of currency notes and other
valuable documents". Dr B N Kolambe said that according to
references in few leading journals, he found that Japan uses
Banana fiber to manufacture the paper required to print its
currency Yen. He said the commercial application of Banana fiber
is viable as its availability is not a constraint.