I can't help talking about everything green it is definetly the latest buzz word and very much part of our African Chapter legacy and has been for a good while. I came across an interesting article based some of the facts aswell as the controversy surrounding the hemp plant. An interesting read ..... although not travel related at all, but going back to maintaining a greener environment and creating a renewable economy!
There is a petition currently circulating asking goverment to join other countries in growing hemp for industrial purposes (legally that is). Some of the countries alreading participating include Australia, Canada,Great Britain , Italy, Netherlands and many more (28 in total).
So what is the benefits of growing industrial hemp you ask? You can create clothing, housing, food, fuel, natural plastics and other locally useful and globable marketable comsumer products out of it.... resulting in jobs too. Hemp is currently a multi billion a year industry and growing!
There are over 50 000 record uses for this plant and amazing enough every part of the plant can be utilized. The outer stalks for textile fibres, the inner stalk for building materials and cellulose, the seed kernel for nutritional oils, the seed husk for biodegradable plastics and the leaves for re-tilling and fertilizing the soil after harvest.
Hemp is also grown organically and is naturally resistant to most pests so no pesticides or herbicides are required in the cultivation. An acre field of hemp can yield up to 8 tons of dry fiber thats about 3 times more than cotton . The same crop will also give 4 times more paper than an acre of forest trees. Hemp also grows in about 3 or 4 months compared to a tree taking up to 20 years to reach a size worth destroying. The hemp plant has also a rapid rate of photosynthesis therefore producing more oxygen!
A crop that contribute to a more sustainable economy according to these facts? To read more about this topic go to http://www.hempnow.co.za
