Hemp production

The federal government looks set to try and help Pakistani exporters exploit the multibillion-dollar international market for cannabidiol, better known as CBD oil. The federal cabinet, according to Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry, has approved industrial hemp production and estimated that it could lead to $1 billion in revenue for the government in the next three years. The minister also says the government is working on a precision agriculture project under which non-traditional fruits and vegetables such as avocadoes, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes will be grown.

The country’s foodies would almost certainly be licking their lips at the possibility of being able to affordably make guacamole and other interesting snacks and meals at home once this project is off the ground. But the main focus should remain the hemp project. Fawad has made an important point that CBD products do not contain the intoxicating components of cannabis and are not addictive. However, he does try to oversell the effectiveness of CBD products, which the medical community has mostly discounted, saying further research is needed to prove a vast majority of the claimed benefits. But be that as it may, CBD has become a big fad in the western world, and consumers are willing to pay top dollar for the unproven cure-all. Plus, there are still practical uses for hemp even if the fad dies out.

Hemp seeds are edible and healthy, and hemp fibre is used to make everything from clothing to sacks, shoes, and canvas. Hemp can also be used in construction composite plastics, biofuel, and high-quality paper. It is also easy to grow — low-grade hemp already grows wild across the north of the country, even in urban centres such as Islamabad. Indeed, if this first round is successful, it could be a Godsend for the economy. It is not the technological boon we were waiting for, but at least it will be an avenue of stability and growth in a sector Pakistan knows how to manage.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2020.

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