Youngsters create portal to sell hemp-based products

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 30

Two youngsters have started online marketing of hemp-based products in Dharamsala. Srijan Sharma, an engineer, and Apurva Sheel, an MA pass out, say they noticed the demand for hemp-based products among domestic and international tourists visiting Himachal and decided to start a portal.

Srijan said hemp, a cannabis plant, was generally associated with the production of charas. However, not many people knew that it was high in fibre and used for producing textiles, carry bags, bio-degradable plastic, oil and protein powder. “Though we have founded the startup in Dharamsala, it is not legal to produce any kind of hemp products in the state. So, we are outsourcing the material from other states or Nepal,” he added.

Apurva Sheel said: “We have urged the state government to allow commercial cropping and production of hemp-based products. The Uttarakhand and UP Governments have already allowed commercial cropping and production of hemp plants. The Manipur Government was actively considering legalising hemp cropping. However, the state government is not in favour of it,” she said.

Srijan said the cannabis plant had two varieties — hemp and marijuana. While the narcotic content is extracted from marijuana variety of the cannabis plant, the hemp plant is used for making many products like cloth and carry bags from its fibre and seed. “The Himachal government can allow its commercial cropping and urge the people to set up units for making its products,” he said.

Apurva said: “At present, hemp-based products are being produced in many states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and South India states. However, even the raw material for making these products like seeds and fibre is imported either from China or Nepal. Studies have revealed that before the British rule, hemp plant-based industrial units were well established in India. However, the British promoted cotton agriculture due to demand in their country based industry and hemp industry died a slow death. These products are popular and in demand in European and other Western countries.”

The demand for legalising commercial cropping of cannabis has been raised by various MLAs in the Assembly, but the government has not taken any decision to date.

Agriculture experts are also of the view that since cannabis grew quickly even in arid areas, commercial cropping of hemp could help supplement the income of farmers, especially in the arid areas.