AN INNOVATIVE AGRO- SUSTAINOPRENEURS BUSINESS MODEL OF RURAL AND PERI- URBAN EMPOWERMENT: UTILISATION, OPTIMISATION, AND COMMERCIALISATION OF BANANA FIBRE IN TAMIL NADU

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate a method that is both sustainable and dynamic, namely social entrepreneurship, for addressing issues related to rural livelihoods. This research is being carried out in Tamil Nadu, a state in India where banana production is rather popular. The findings of this study indicate that banana fibre is a mostly underutilised agricultural waste that has the potential to lead to rural development. The purpose of this article is to explore the degree to which strategic efforts in the utilisation, optimisation, and monetization of banana fibre correspond with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to offer a meaningful and demonstrable social effect in rural areas.

This research studies the process of converting discarded banana stems into fibre that may be put to beneficial use. There is a strong emphasis placed on utilisation as the first step towards enhancing environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. The optimisation variable refers to the ways in which technical and operational advancements might improve the quality of the fibre, reduce the costs of processing, and raise worker productivity, hence making the banana fibre value chain more realistic and inclusive. To guarantee that every step of the research model, from resource recovery to income generation, holistically promotes rural development, gender equality, environmental preservation, and dignified employment, the Sustainable Development Goals have been included into the research model as a framework. In the research, social effect and rural empowerment are ranked as dependent outcomes. These results are assessed by increased income levels, job possibilities, community engagement, and improvements in the quality of life in rural Tamil Nadu. This article contributes to the ongoing discussion on sustainable social enterprises by presenting an approach that is both scalable and repeatable, to reduce poverty in rural areas and incorporate concepts of circular economies and sustainable lives into rural development.