Industrial hemp is fast emerging as a crop-changer in India, particularly in Uttarakhand, the hill state. Requiring minimal water, growing rapidly, and having a multitude of industrial applications, hemp provides farmers in rural areas with a profitable and sustainable alternative to traditional crops. Ever since it was legalised in 2018, hemp has started revolutionising the region's agricultural landscape.
For centuries, wild hemp flourished in Uttarakhand's hills. It is silently covering fields and slopes with little attention or care from humans. People were aware of its applications, but it was mostly underutilized due to the legal and social prohibitions. Now, however, industrial hemp is making a comeback as a shining hope for farmers in the area.
In 2018, Uttarakhand legalized its commercial cultivation. It was the first state to do so in India, creating what many refer to as "green gold." This move created new possibilities for hill farmers faced with low incomes, water scarcity, and subpar soils. Industrial hemp is not marijuana, it has less than 0.3% of the psychoactive ingredient THC.
As THC amount won't affect it so it is safe and legal to cultivate according to state regulations. From clothing to textiles, medicine to building, this plant boasts over 25,000 industrial applications, and it may well transform the future of hill farming in rural areas.
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