Pakistan’s agro-climatic conditions support the production of industrial hemp. It practically grows wild in Islamabad and the rest of the northern areas. It’s extremely adaptive nature, and the acceptability of varied soil types makes it a potentially big crop in almost all regions of Pakistan. Furthermore, hemp’s water requirements are far less than that of most of our regular crops. Lastly, demand for hemp-derived products is rapidly increasing in the West and other well-paying markets which means huge export potential for products derived from the crop.
Demand for hemp-derived products is rapidly increasing in the West. Hemp’s water requirements are far less than that of most of our regular crops.
Planners in Pakistan government must make efforts to first clear the misunderstanding about it being the same as the marijuana-producing cannabis and then encourage its plantation after making the necessary amendments in the law. Simultaneous efforts would be required to channelize investment into processing of hemp derived products like CBD Oil, hemp-seed oil, hemp fibre and hempcrete.
With 70% of total world production, China leads in hemp cultivation whereas, with about quarter world production, France ranks second. More than 30 countries representing all continents where regular agriculture takes place are currently producing industrial hemp. Many countries that currently do not produce hemp due to legal restrictions are also working towards finding ways to regularize production of industrial hemp.
Unless the planners dealing with the agriculture sector in Pakistan act swiftly and intelligently we may end up missing out yet another opportunity to lift our agriculture out of its current state of backwardness. Yes, there is risk that some may misuse the liberalization of hemp cultivation by mixing in the drug-producing cannabis strain and start producing the drugs. But then is it fair to completely eliminate a very useful crop just because we cannot control some criminals? Would we ban grape cultivation if we feared that some people may start using the fruit to produce wine?
It is about time our agri planners took stock of latest developments at the international stage and prepared for benefiting from the latest trends. At-least a debate must start on possibility of allowing commercial cultivation of industrial hemp in the country.
