Creating a Hemp Ecosystem Anew in the Tall Himalayas
In the heart of the Indian Himalayas, a movement is underway to legalize the cultivation of local cannabis (hemp) varieties, with a focus on preserving biodiversity and rural community autonomy.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, enacted in 1985, outlawed cannabis in India. However, many village communities in the remote mountain regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have historically depended on cannabis for food, clothing, and financing. These communities, such as the Bora, have a holistic approach to making the most out of a single cannabis plant.
Recently, Himachal Pradesh has hinted at following suit in legalizing low-THC cannabis cultivation. This move could be a significant step towards reviving the mountain hemp economy and addressing mass migration from remote villages. The Himalayan Hemp Cooperative, cofounded by Haneesh Katnawer and Sonam Sodha in Himachal Pradesh, is at the forefront of this movement.
The Cooperative is establishing an open-source, not-for-profit seed bank to protect Himalayan hemp varieties. They are also categorizing seeds as fiber or medical to help farmers make informed choices. The Hemp Foundation, another organization involved, is training local women in hemp weaving and working with commercial mills to create products from Himalayan hemp.
Legislation in India to support this cultivation can be designed to include regulated pilot projects for industrial hemp cultivation, legal frameworks that allow rural and Indigenous communities to maintain control over their local hemp varieties, strict conservation clauses, research and development incentives, community involvement in licensing and benefit-sharing mechanisms, regulated THC limits and quality control, and environmental impact assessments and monitoring.
This approach balances regulation, research, conservation, and Indigenous/local rights considerations, creating a sustainable, community-empowering hemp cultivation framework tailored to Himalayan conditions. Wild cannabis grows tall on mountainous slopes in the Indian Himalayas, nestling whole villages. Cannabis was first referred to in the Vedas as early as 4,000-5,000 BC.
However, the road to legalization is not without challenges. Limiting the THC-content allowed in legally grown hemp could threaten the ancient approach that comes with locally cultivated varieties. Rashmi Bharti, cofounder of Avani, explains that the community started to abandon their craft due to confusion and growing stigma around cannabis under the NDPS Act.
Organizations like the Himalayan Hemp Cooperative and Hemp Foundation are working to overcome these challenges. They are collaborating with local forest authorities to legally forage wild hemp plants for product development. Avani's work seeks to preserve traditional hand spinning and weaving skills by providing the community with alternative fiber sources and training them in the cultivation of silk.
In the Rudraprayag and Pauri districts of Uttarakhand, the Hemp Foundation is working to understand the potential for reversing mass migration. Their goal is to revive the mountain hemp economy and protect biodiversity and cultural heritage. By fostering a symbiotic relationship with the plant, they aim to unlock the true value from a sustainability standpoint.
Read also:
- Medical professional advocates for increased action to address deficiency of primary care physicians
- Malayan Capital Markets Introduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Calculator for Small and Medium Enterprises in its Enhanced ESG Disclosure Guide for Sustainable Business Practices
- Unveiled Accounts of Female Scientists Whose Genius Remained Unnoticed
- Australia's Charismatic Creatures Conserved Through Community Science via SeadragonSearch
