Just recently, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) banned the used of unwoven bags, 2 years after banning the use of plastic bags.
With this ban, Kenyans should rethink sisal because its farming has a long term advantage.
After initial planting leaves can be harvested after only 24 months and continue being harvested for up to 12 years.
Sisal fibre now fetches upto Ksh 100 per kilo in the local market and the fibre is environment friendly and can be used as organic compost manure.
The world’s leading sisal producing countries are Brazil, China, Kenya and Tanzania.
Brazil’s sisal farming is done mainly by small scale farmers who enjoy lower prices for their inputs.
Although sisal was threatened by synthetic materials like nylon and manilla, thanks to the sudden eco-friendly awareness.
Sisal is experiencing a revival. Its resurgence has brought awareness of its alternative uses.
In Tanzania the government has been toying around with the idea of using sisal waste or biomass to generate electricity.
Traditionally sisal was used for making paper, ropes and carpets.
With enhanced technology, sisal fibre juice is used in the medical field to produce medicinal drugs.
In the automobile industry, sisal is used in making seat cushions and padding for stiffening comfort.
In the clothing industry sisal is mixed with other materials to make winter jackets.
Furniture makers consume sisal material to make mattresses, sofas and seat cushions.
Modern building technology is gradually adopting sisal as a bonding material that is used to hold and strengthen cement mortar.
In the agricultural sector, sisal biomass is used in the manufacture of bio-fertilizer and other organic inputs used in animal feeds.
With time the Chinese have emerged the highest producers of sisal worldwide because of support from the government and increased role of manufacturing for the world markets.