Kerala in south India grows several cash crops such as banana and
pineapple, the crop residues of which are sources of natural fibres that
can be used in hand papermaking. Kerala, however, does not have a
tradition in hand papermaking. The following is an account of an attempt
to popularize the art and craft of hand papermaking among self-help
groups as a means of self-employment and waste utilization, using fibres
extracted from agriwaste and local plants