In Bihar, banana plants are often discarded after the fruit is harvested. Taruwar Agro Industries saw an opportunity in this agricultural waste, turning banana stems into fibre and other value-added products while creating additional income opportunities for farmers.
From banana waste to business
Founded in 2021 by Jagat Kalyan, Satyam Kumar and Nitish Kumar Verma, Taruwar Agro began after the three MBA classmates researched ways to build a business around Bihar's local resources.
The company set up operations in Hajipur, a major banana-growing region, and began sourcing stems from farmers after harvesting. The material is processed into banana fibre, which is used to make products such as file folders, yoga mats, baskets and prayer mats.
The founders say the model also helps farmers clear their fields while providing an additional source of income from plants that were previously treated as waste.
Building a zero-waste value chain
Taruwar Agro's approach extends beyond fibre extraction. Residual material from the process is converted into vermicompost, while plant sap is used to produce a plant nutrition liquid. The company is also exploring banana-based food products, including chips, flour, starch, juice and jelly.
It is additionally developing banana-fibre-based vegan leather and blended textiles.
The business has created employment in the local community and trains workers because specialised skills in banana-fibre processing remain limited. Women account for nearly 60% of its workforce, according to the founders.
From Rs 15 lakh to Rs 2.5 crore
Taruwar Agro started with about Rs 15 lakh in investment and approximately Rs 5 lakh in working capital, funded by the founders and their families. The company says it has remained bootstrapped.
After initially focusing on B2B customers, the startup expanded into direct-to-consumer sales. Its products are available through its own platform and marketplaces including Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho.
The company recorded revenue of approximately Rs 2.5 crore in FY26.
Taruwar Agro is now exploring makhana, healthy snacks, walnut processing and other agricultural products. It has also sent product samples to markets including France and the Philippines.
The founders' broader aim is to demonstrate how Bihar's agricultural resources can support value-added manufacturing, entrepreneurship and rural employment instead of remaining limited to raw commodity sales.
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