Hemp is believed to have originated in Central Asia, around 8,000 B.C.E and can be grown in a variety of soils, making it a very versatile crop to farm (Bouloc, 2015). Rural Nepal would be an ideal location to grow and cultivate hemp due to its climate. While hemp can be grown in a variety of different soils, it would specifically thrive in Nepal due to the country’s humid environment. The hemp plant needs a humid environment for proper growth, one which has a rainfall of at least 25-30 inches annually (Bouloc, 2015).
According to The World Bank, Nepal has 1500mm or 59 inches of rain per year, which provides more than a sufficient amount for the growth of the hemp crop (The World Bank, 2015). Depending on the environmental conditions, hemp plants can grow between 4–15 feet in height, and at best reach a diameter of 0.75 inches (Bouloc, 2015). Since the 1930s, cultivation has been focused on selecting varieties of hemp that would not be ideal for drug usage. The peak point for cultivation of these varieties is before the plant flowers, thus reducing its potential as a drug material (Hemp Basics, 2015).
As mentioned previously, all parts of the hemp plant can be used and turned into products. Hemp fibre has been used in paper production for over 2000 years (Bouloc, 2015). Hemp bast fibre is long and its core (which is similar to wood) contains shorter fibres. Hemp has the potential to be blended with other pulps to be a more sustainable source of paper. Hemp leaves and seeds are safe for human consumption and can be used as a food source due to their high mineral and nutrient content. They were also originally used for medicinal purposes (Meeks, 2011). The farming of hemp would be a major benefit to Nepalese farmers as they would be able to make use of every part of the crop. This is a plant that is hardy, resilient, and can be grown without the use of chemical pesticides (Hemp Oil Canada, 2014).
Hemp has been shown to reduce weeds around other plants when it is planted at the right time, and thus shows great potential to be rotated with other crops in Nepalese fields as a natural weed suppresser (Health Canada, 2012). In order for this to be successful, there would need to be information and educational resources available to Nepalese farmers. This is something that would take time and money in order to be implemented properly. However, this is a product that could potentially provide long-term success as an increased, or alternative income to farmers in Nepal.
According to The World Bank, Nepal has 1500mm or 59 inches of rain per year, which provides more than a sufficient amount for the growth of the hemp crop (The World Bank, 2015). Depending on the environmental conditions, hemp plants can grow between 4–15 feet in height, and at best reach a diameter of 0.75 inches (Bouloc, 2015). Since the 1930s, cultivation has been focused on selecting varieties of hemp that would not be ideal for drug usage. The peak point for cultivation of these varieties is before the plant flowers, thus reducing its potential as a drug material (Hemp Basics, 2015).
As mentioned previously, all parts of the hemp plant can be used and turned into products. Hemp fibre has been used in paper production for over 2000 years (Bouloc, 2015). Hemp bast fibre is long and its core (which is similar to wood) contains shorter fibres. Hemp has the potential to be blended with other pulps to be a more sustainable source of paper. Hemp leaves and seeds are safe for human consumption and can be used as a food source due to their high mineral and nutrient content. They were also originally used for medicinal purposes (Meeks, 2011). The farming of hemp would be a major benefit to Nepalese farmers as they would be able to make use of every part of the crop. This is a plant that is hardy, resilient, and can be grown without the use of chemical pesticides (Hemp Oil Canada, 2014).
Hemp has been shown to reduce weeds around other plants when it is planted at the right time, and thus shows great potential to be rotated with other crops in Nepalese fields as a natural weed suppresser (Health Canada, 2012). In order for this to be successful, there would need to be information and educational resources available to Nepalese farmers. This is something that would take time and money in order to be implemented properly. However, this is a product that could potentially provide long-term success as an increased, or alternative income to farmers in Nepal.