China urged to develop hemp industry

China urged to develop hemp industry

JAKARTA: Minister for Research and Technology Hatta Radjasa called on China to jointly develop the Indonesian hemp industry as the raw materials were plentiful here.

Hatta made the call when receiving the governor of Hunan Province He Tongxin and his 12-member entourage at his office here on Thursday.

The Chinese delegation also brought with them products developed from hemp.

China is the biggest producer of hemp in the world with a production of 120,000 tons annually. Brazil and the Philippines are in the second and third places respectively. Indonesia produces only around 100 tons annually.

The minister said that Indonesia had only 300 hectares under hemp.

"Yet, the hemp plant can grow easily in Indonesian soil," he explained.

He said the government would likely encourage farmers to grow hemp to be used as a raw material in the textile industry. -- Antara