Hemp fiber based textiles have superior qualities to cotton and are in high demand globally. Hemp fabrics are stronger, more durable, thermo-active, antibacterial, UV protective, quick drying, and ideal for clothing, towels, and tents. Hemp is more sustainable than cotton, requiring less water and pesticides. Pakistan's northern areas have suitable climate for hemp cultivation, which could generate $1 billion annually and 100,000-200,000 jobs. Hemp fiber production is 3 times that of cotton per acre with lower water and fertilizer needs. Transitioning to hemp fiber textiles could revive Pakistan's textile industry and reduce water usage.

1. HEMP FIBER BASED TEXTILES
THE WAY FORWARD FOR
PAKISTANI TEXTILE INDUSTRY
By Dr Hk S Arshad raza

2. Hemp “king of natural fibers”…
 Hemp is an ancient plant, known as "king of natural
fibers". Clothing and other products made from
Hemp are superior in comparison to cotton, suitable
for both military and civilian applications. “Chinese
Army is a major Buyer of Chinese hemp fiber based
textile for use in uniforms socks and ropes etc.”
due to superior fabric quality. Also Hemp based
textile and other products are in great demand
across the globe.

3.  In comparison to cotton Hemp fiber based fabrics are
• Strong & Durable
• Thermo-active
• Antistatic
• Antibacterial
• UV protective
• Quick-drying
• Perfect for all kinds of clothing such as uniforms,
underwear but also for towels, bed-clothing etc.
• Ideal for manufacturing of ropes and tents etc.
Fabrics made of hemp fibers…

4. Comparison Hemp V/S cotton
Item Hemp Cotton
Water resources for Cultivation Needed 2,719 Liters/kg fiber Needed 10,000 Liters Liters/kg fiber
Yield per acre kg 400-500 kg 323 kg
Fiber strength 3-6 times than cotton Medium
Durability Highly durable Low durability
Pesticide Not required or negligible Very high requirements
Impact on Environment Improves soil fertility Destroy soil & spoils water resource
Crops effect on Soil Improves fertility Destroy soil by pesticide
Cultivation soil needed Pakistan Across all areas Highly specific in irrigated fertile soils
Fertilizer application Low to moderate High application
Weed management Very Low or negligible Highly intensive

5. Comparison Hemp V/S cotton

6. Hemp textile are bacterial resistant
Table II:Results Of Antibacterial Test Of Hemp Fabrics
Test Item Time Inhibition by Hemp fabric
Staphylococcus aureus inhibition rate (%) 1hr 92.3
4hr 97.3
Escherichia coli antimicrobial rate (%) 1hr 92.3
4hr 97.5
Antibacterial rate of Candida albicans (%) 1hr 92.2
4hr 96.6

7. Hemp The Green Gold …
 Hemp will revolutionize various industries & sectors as Agriculture, Textiles,
Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Food & Nutrition, Building & construction,
Automobiles, with positive impact on reducing CO2 emissions & environment
(biomass for carbon sequestration).
 Restore, Revolutionize and improve performance of troubled textile sector
of Pakistan.
 Production is 3 X than cotton per acre, 30 % less water & Negligible
pesticide requirements compared to cotton.
 Natural habitat of dry and cold mountainous climate of northern areas
in Pakistan.
 Can generate US$ 1 Billion worth of revenue & 100,000 -200,000 jobs in
just 1 - 2 years.

8. Hemp the green gold opportunity for
Pakistan…
 Pakistan’s Rain fed Northern areas offer a
unique prospective opportunity to cultivate &
value add industrial / medicinal hemp THE
GREEN GOLD, Its thriving market size was
estimated at USD 3.9 billion globally in 2017,
expanding at a CAGR of 14.0%, expected to
reach USD 10.6 billion by 2025.

9.  Hemp a multi-purpose plant that is eco-friendly, renewable and turns into a
white color fiber like cotton, after going through the process of
decortication, de-gumming (Cottonization) and spinning. Than the fiber can
be blended with wool or cotton at a low cost or 100 % hemp based
fabrics. China pursues hemp as a sustainable alternative to cotton.
 Expanded production of hemp, offers enormous benefits. First, it would
provide a major new source of fiber for the textile industry, reduce
dependency on cotton which is consuming a lot of water, fertilizer,
pesticides & resources. Furthermore in the process, it free large areas of
cotton-growing land, which can be used for cultivation of important food
crops.
 In addition, hemp cultivation would generate extra income for millions of
small-scale farmers in some of the country’s poorest rural mountainous
areas.
“Hemp the would be lifeline for
textile industry in Pakistan”

10. Potential
uses of
hemp
Value added products from hemp

11. Hemp Product Irrigated Crop Price US$ Output / acre Cost USD/ Acre Profit USD/acre
*Grain/seed only 1.1/kg 550 kg-700 kg $574 200– 300.
** Fiber only
$75-$125 /ton 5-8 T $617 150-200
***Fiber/seed
$100 /ton, 1.1/kg 0.5- T/ 500-550 kg $574 150-200
****CBD only
$10000 /kg 4.5 kg $8750 (10,000 - $25,000)
* Crop grown for seed only with no fiber yield, ** Crop grown for seed & fiber commonly referred as Dual crop. *** Crop grown for fiber no seed yield
commonly referred as fiber crop, **** Crop grown for CBD (Cannabidiol) only with no seed yield commonly referred as Medicinal hemp crop.
Hemp Product Rain fed Crop Price Output / acre Cost USD/ Acre Profit USD/acre
*Grain/seed only 1.1/kg 350 kg-500 kg $410 100– 300 USD.
** Fiber only $75-$125 /ton 2-8 T $5 100– 250 USD.
***Fiber/seed $75-$125 /ton 0.5- T/ 300-550 kg $410 150– 200 USD.
****CBD only $10000 /kg 4.5 kg $87500 (10,000 - $25,000)
* Crop grown for seed only with no fiber yield, ** Crop grown for seed & fiber commonly referred as Dual crop. *** Crop grown for fiber only with no seed
yield commonly referred as fiber crop, **** Crop grown for CBD (Cannabidiol) only with no seed yield commonly referred as Medicinal hemp crop.
Hemp agro-economy per acre

12.  The excellent properties of industrial
hemp is expected to bring about
revolutionary changes in uniforms for
soldiers in the future. Considering the
unique properties of hemp, it can be
processed into a variety of military
apparel and high-end apparel
materials.
Fabric from Hemp to revolutionize
military uniforms

13. China industrial hemp Agro-economy in
pursue of Green gold bloom:
 China’s is pursuing hemp due to superior fabric qualities
and to minimize cotton’s carbon footprint and environment
impact. China is evaluating its hemp production value chain
and proposing more large scale production of this
sustainable crop, which unlike cotton, doesn’t require as
much pesticide and water use. Since beginning this
initiative, china has increased its hemp crop from 2,500
acres to more than 74,000 acres in Heilongjiang Province
alone this year, and a target of approximately 150,000
acres as early as 2018.

14. China industrial hemp Agro-economy in
pursue of Green gold bloom continued….
 Hemp textiles due to high-quality fabrics
would enable China to compete with other
major global textile players. Additional
benefits of hemp fibers include a complex
3-D structure, superb moisture absorption &
quick drying qualities. China aims to increase
hemp crops over the next few years to
ultimately replace it with cotton, while
maintaining its status as a top international
textile source.

15. China hemp based products sales US$

16. Key Attributes of hemp fiber based textiles
Thermo-active
Antistatic
Economical
& eco
friendly
Antibacterial

17. The green gold global boom US$ 1.5 trillion

18. Conclusion
 Considering huge economic impact of hemp Pakistan’s rain fed (dry, cold &
mountainous) Northern areas offer a unique prospective opportunity to
cultivate & value add industrial / medicinal Hemp (fibers and seed),
sparing high quality irrigated lands along river Indus for more important
food crops.
 Hemp agro economy and value addition Will revolutionize various
industries & sectors as Agriculture, Textiles, Pharmaceutical,
Nutraceutical, Food & Nutrition, Building & construction, Automobiles.
 Pakistan water shortage crisis can be improved by gradually shifting from
cotton (high pesticide - irrigated cultivation) to hemp fiber (rain
cultivated).
 Can generate US$ 1 Billion worth of revenue & 100,000 -200,000 jobs in
just 1 year.

19. Conclusion continued….
 Restore, Revolutionize and improve performance of troubled textile sector
by switching from cotton to Hemp in manufacturing textile from hemp
alone or hemp & cotton mixed fibers.
 Hemp fiber (Production is 3 X than cotton per acre) is far superior to
cotton fiber in quality and after proper decortication (removal of fiber
from stem) and cottonization (improving quality of fiber to be processed in
cotton spinning machinery), will results in better products compared to
cotton.

20. Educate Cultivate Value add Promote
I. For Benefits
• Varietal
• Environmental
• Medicinal
• Food
• Industrial
2. Varietal
Selection for
• Environmental
• Medicinal
• Fibre
• Food etc
3. Process for
• Medicinal
• Fibre
• Food etc
Purpose
3. Products
• Medicinal
• Clothing
• Hempcrete.
• Bio-plastic
• Paper
• Food etc
Hemp value chain The way forward for Pakistan….

21. Hemp value chain The way forward for Pakistan….
Educate &
Promote
• Medicinal benefits (Low THC & High CBD ), Food benefits (seed proteins and seed oils)
• Industrial benefits (fiber and other benefits) & Environmental benefits.
Regulate &
legalize
• Non psychoactive (low THC < 0.3 %) hemp cultivation license.
• Regulation by THC determination of seed & on farm testing by regulatory bodies.
Cultivation
• Licensing & Trial cultivation.
• Selection of cultivation verities.
• Assistance in cultivation to farmers.
Value Add
• Pilot plants installation for fiber processing.

22. “
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Thank you
Developed by By Hk Dr S Arshad Raza
International collaborator Capt ( R ) Azhar Khan (UK)
For enquiries and assistance write to Email: ahlabspk@gmail.com,
www.ahlabspk.com. Cell: +92308-2471953. Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Hempakistan/