Hemp fiber - problems and prospects of its use in Ukraine

Relevant analytical materials will be prepared in order to inform interested government agencies about the current situation in this sector of modern cannabis farming in Ukraine, as well as proposed ways and mechanisms to implement existing problems in this area of ​​management and prevent difficulties for both agricultural producers and enterprises. specializing in the processing of hemp raw materials.

During the first day of training for the students of the "Hemp University", a specialized round table "Hemp fiber - problems and prospects for its use in Ukraine" was held. As part of the above event, representatives of the hemp industry of our country, specializing in the processing of hemp straw / trusts, obtaining fiber, making yarn, fabrics, as well as various types of end products with high added value, spoke to the audience. 

The speakers focused the attention of the event participants on the fact that due to the drop in the effective demand of the population of Ukraine, including due to the coronavirus pandemic, sales of textile and knitted products made using hemp fiber decreased. In particular, V. Polonchuk during his speech noted that the number of buyers in Ukraine, in contrast to economically developed countries, is not 3-10% of the population, but fluctuates within 1-2%.

The lack of capacity for deep processing of hemp fiber presupposes, for the most part, the manufacture of products with low added value, which foreign customers (primarily from China) are willing to buy at a reduced price. The above situation has already led to a number of problems for one of the national companies specializing in the primary processing of hemp straw / trusts.

During his speech V.Polonchuk focused on the fact that the consolidated volume of hemp fiber consumption in Ukraine is from 20 to 100 tons. In turn, the capacities of only new primary processing plants commissioned over the past 2 years can satisfy the above fiber needs in 1-2 months of operation (this is not taking into account the work of the old Soviet hemp factories, as well as the "modified" linen capacities capable of processing hemp raw materials). Accordingly, on the one hand, there is an overproduction on the hemp fiber market in Ukraine, and on the other, there is insufficient demand. One of the ways out of this situation is the creation of capacities for deep processing, in particular the production of hemp cellulose and, accordingly, the final goods from the above-mentioned highly liquid raw materials (paper, bags, etc.).

Another currently effective way of selling hemp fiber is to establish export supplies to countries interested in its use under mutually beneficial long-term contracts. In particular, Y. Lysenko drew the attention of those present on the potential interest in hemp fiber of consumers from the countries of the European Union, but noted that potential partners from the EU impose rather stringent requirements on the quality of exported semi-finished products, as well as the volume of manufactured products.

Another way to effectively sell hemp fiber is to create end products that are in demand both in our country and have a huge export potential. It was on these technologies that the attention of the audience was focused by A. Shpachinsky, who presented a joint project of the information and analytical platform Hemp Consulting, the Hemp Supermarket, and Hemp Gifs for the impregnation of hemp tissues with biologically active substances with essential therapeutic properties. In particular, the attention of those present was focused on the already manufactured final products impregnated with solutions of citrate / humic silver or copper. The results of the experiments were demonstrated, proving the feasibility of using this kind of tissue impregnated with healing liquids to combat coronavirus (making reusable masks), treating various kinds of diseases by exposing an organ in need of healing to a therapeutic composition. The production of hemp insoles impregnated with healing solutions, which include therapeutically active copper and silver, was presented.

It should be noted that several participants of the round table noted the absurdity of certain provisions of the current regulatory framework, which predetermines the ability of government officials not only to interfere with the activities of agricultural producers and enterprises specializing in the processing of hemp straw / trusts, but also having formal grounds within the framework of those initiated by far-fetched on the grounds of criminal cases to demand the daily destruction of straw / trusts, as well as semi-finished products made from the above raw materials. In particular, the representative of the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine E. Didyk focused the attention of the event participants on the fact that it was on this issue, together with the Association "Ukrainian Technical Hemp", that a draft amendment to the corresponding resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers was prepared in early 2020 Ukraine, however, at the moment, the initiation of its consideration in the CMU, according to the current regulations, should be dealt with by specialists from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, who are clearly not “eager” to do anything for its approval at the level of relevant ministries and departments. Accordingly, throughout almost the entire current year, fruitless correspondence has been carried out between various government departments, which does not lead to the abolition of archaic provisions of the current regulatory framework, which significantly interfere with the further development of modern cannabis growing in Ukraine, in particular in matters related to the processing of hemp straw / trusts and obtaining highly liquid products from hemp fiber.

Based on the results of the round table "Hemp fiber - problems and prospects of its use in Ukraine", the specialists of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp" together with experts from the information and analytical platform Hemp Consulting will prepare relevant analytical materials in order to inform about the situation in this sector of modern hemp growing in Ukraine government agencies interested in this. In addition, ways and mechanisms will be proposed for the implementation of existing problems in this area of ​​management and prevention of difficulties for both agricultural producers and enterprises specializing in the processing of hemp raw materials.