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"We have standardised the process of making high value paper from the Banana fibre. The paper has has been tested in the Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology," Dr B N Kolambe, a scientist at Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) told PTI.
"During the research it was found that paper made out of this fibre has shelf life of over 100 years as it is the strongest of the long fibres ever found amidst natural fibres.
It can be folded for as many as 3,000 times," he said.
"This fibre has the potential to find application in making of the paper required for the printing of currency notes," Kolambe said.
According to references in few leading journals we found that Japan uses Banana fibre to manufacture the paper required to print its currency Yen, he said.
Seconding his views, a RBI official said, "Banana fibre as an input raw material could be the secret behind the lasting currency of Japan, whereas the Indian currency is quite prone to getting soiled during transactions and has lower shelf life."
In the present set up, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPCMIL) imports very high grade quality cotton rags and pulp to manufacture the paper required for currency, the official said on the condition of anonymity.
