Manila hemp or abaca, the wefl-known cordage fiber, is obtained from the leaf sheaths which, together with the central core, form the pseudostem or trunk of the abaca plant. The abaca plant is a non-edible banana. Valuable fiber can also be obtained from the leaf sheaths of the edible banana plant but the yield of fiber is less than half that obtained from the abaca plant. The technical aspects of the small-scale extraction and processing of fiber from the edible banana plant, together with its physical and chemical properties are reviewed. -- AATA