{"id":1074,"date":"2022-11-17T13:45:40","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T13:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tintsaba.com\/?page_id=1074"},"modified":"2025-10-17T13:33:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T13:33:07","slug":"the-sisal-plant","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tintsaba.com\/?page_id=1074","title":{"rendered":"The Sisal Plant"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Sisal Plant<\/h2>\t\t\t\t
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Sisal is the common name for Agave Sisalana.\u00a0It is very similar in appearance to other agave species such as the type used to make tequila. It can be found in most areas of eSwatini, and is regarded as an exotic and\u00a0invasive weed. Sisal has always been used\u00a0to make rope, twine, handcraft and stockades.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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STEPS TO HARVESTING:<\/p>

ONE – Harvest<\/p>

Our sisal harvesting groups usually gather the sisal leaves while conducting other routine domestic duties such as; the gathering of firewood, farming, or looking after cattle. On discovering the sisal plant in the veld,\u00a0the women will harvest the younger leaves.\u00a0Young leaves are preferred because their fibres are a bright cream colour which takes the dye more efficiently.\u00a0One leaf can be as long as 75cm in length and can hold 200 individual fibers.<\/p>

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TWO – Stripping and drying<\/p>

The harvested leaves are then stripped. Using a little water and a sharp edge, (a rock, hoe or other farming implements), the flesh of these succulent leaves is scraped away to reveal the strong internal fibers. Once the fibers are bare, the sisal is then laid out to dry. Depending on the season, after a day or two, the fibers are dry.\u00a0<\/p>

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THREE – Packing and purchasing<\/p>

The dried fibers are then bundled, and inspected for any residual flesh. Tintsaba will then visit the various harvesting groups to buy the raw sisal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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