Information Center, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China

1 Introduction

Hemp is a unique cash crop and belongs to annual or perennial bast fiber crops or leaf fiber crops. It mainly includes ramie, flax, kenaf, jute, sisal, and hemp, in which the ramie and flax are worsted fiber of the textile industry, while kenaf, jute, sisal, and hemp are woollen fiber[1]. In the world, the suitable production areas of the hemp are distributed at 45°-55°N. Heilongjiang Province is just situated in this latitude area and has become the most suitable area for planting hemp in China. In the past, Heilongjiang was once the main flax production base in China. Hemp crops have the characteristics of full mechanization and large-scale production. Heilongjiang Province has large area of cultivated land and land is flat, which provides convenient conditions for large-scale and mechanized operation. As a special cash crop, hemp crops have broad development space[2]. Through analyzing the current situation of hemp industry in Heilongjiang Province, we came up with recommendations for the development of hemp industry, so as to provide certain references for sound development of hemp industry in Heilongjiang Province.

2 Development of the hemp industry in Heilongjiang Province

2.1HistoryofhempplantingThe hemp crops in Heilongjiang Province are mainly distributed in Daqing, Heihe, Daxing’anling, Qiqihar, Lanxi, Ning’an, Hulin and Nenjiang. The raw materials of various ropes used in Heilongjiang rural areas for production and living are mainly from hemp, and farmers are accustomed to planting hemp in the edges of field to protect crops. In the 1980s, due to the excellent situation of the export of flax and the low labor cost at that time, the area of hemp planting in Heilongjiang Province was up to 167 000 ha, which was the peak in history. Flax products became gifts of that time. With the promulgation of subsidy policies for staple crops and purchase of staple crops at protected price, the comparative income from planting flax and hemp was significantly reduced, and economic benefits could not be guaranteed, market demands also declined, accordingly the area of planting hemp gradually diminished. By 2015, the planting area of hemp was not higher than 6 700 ha. In 2016, the Ministry of Agriculture issuedOpinionsaboutStructuralAdjustmentofMaizeinSickleBendRegion(from northeast to north China - southwest - northwest, like the sickle bend in the map), Heilongjiang Province has gradually reduced the maize planting area. This structural adjustment provides development space for hemp production. According to statistics, in 2016, only the industrial hemp planting area in Heilongjiang Province exceeded 16 700 ha, but there is still much space for the development of hemp products.

2.2MaincultivarsThe hemps currently planted in Heilongjiang Province mainly include hemp and flax. There are more than 400 pieces of hemp resources, and the cultivars include the ‘Longdama’ Hemp, ‘Qingdama’ Hemp, and ‘Huoma’ Hemp, and flax varieties mainly include ‘Heiya’ and ‘Shuangya’[3]. At present, the government has not issued relevant documents on industrial hemp cultivation and processing, and thus the breeding system and improved breeding system are still not perfect, which has restricted the sound development of the hemp seed market[4].

3 Recommendations for development of the hemp industry in Heilongjiang Province

3.1CultivatingandintroducingfinevarietiesThe lack of fine varieties is a major problem that plagues the development of the hemp industry. At present, the hemp varieties have the disadvantages of low hemp germination rate and low lodging resistance. It is recommended to cultivate and introduce new high yield, drought resistant, disease resistant, lodging resistant varieties suitable for mechanized production in accordance with different natural conditions. Besides, it is recommended to build fine variety breeding base for hemp, to promote sustainable development of the hemp industry[5].

3.2RaisingthemechanizationlevelofhempproductionAt present, Heilongjiang Province has basically realized the mechanization of sowing, harvesting, and fiber processing. However, hemp turning, bundling, and fiber processing are still completed manually, lacking proper operating machinery. These will increase the production cost and restrict large-scale development of industry hemp industry. It is recommended to strengthen the support for research and development and manufacture of hemp operating machinery, encourage scientific research organizations to cooperate with production enterprises to jointly tackle the problems and realize whole process mechanization of the hemp production in China[6].

3.3OptimizingandadjustingthedistributionofhempproductionareaFor a long time, Heilongjiang Province has formed a planting structure dominated by maize production in the south and soybean planting in the north. However, the long time of continuous cropping leads to yield decline and serious insect pests and plant diseases. It is recommended to guide the production of adaptable hemp crops based on field surveys and studies, optimize the distribution of the production area, and adjust the planting structure. (i) It is recommended to select suitable planting areas according to climatic conditions. (ii) It is recommended to create large-scale and mechanized production conditions in the planting areas. (iii) It is recommended to plant crops such as flax with higher comparative benefits than other ordinary crops[4].

3.4FormingthewholeindustrychainproductionscaleanddevelopingnewcharacteristicfunctionsHemp products can be processed into textiles, oil products, health products and other forms of products, and can be effectively combined with agricultural and industrial, pharmaceutical raw materials, and final products. Thus, it is recommended to cultivate new hemp varieties for fresh eating and feed, form agricultural cooperative husbandry industry chain, to increase the planting benefits of hemp crops. Hemp by-products such as flax residue can be made into matrix and building materials; Development of hemp film instead of plastic film conforms to the concept of green development and recycling economy.

3.5StrengtheningthepolicysupporttoraisetheindustrialcompetitivenessThe flax production is greatly subject to natural conditions and the risk of planting is high. Therefore, government should issue relevant supporting policies to ensure the sustainable development of special cash crops. It is recommended to establish standards, laws, and regulations for the selection of hemp from germplasm, planting, harvesting, and quality inspection, and regulate the orderly development of hemp industry. Besides, it is recommended to increase the scientific research investment. The shortage of scientific research funds restricts the development of hemp discipline. It is recommended to improve infrastructure, improve research methods, cultivate superior varieties, establish standardized supporting cultivation techniques, and enhance industrial competitiveness through increasing the scientific research investment.

4 Development prospects of flax and hemp products

With suitable climatic conditions and soil conditions, Heilongjiang Province is suitable for planting flax and hemp. The solution to problems of varieties, processing techniques and mechanization is helpful for comprehensive development of the whole industry chain of hemp products. It is recommended to explore functions of hemp biomass materials and pharmaceutical industry; in the context of people’s pursuit for nature and the life concept of returning to nature, it is recommended to develop natural textiles and health products of flax and hemp; it is recommended to build regional brands and famous brands of hemp and flax products through establishing Heilongjiang Provincial Association of Hemp and Flax Industry, to realize large development space of flax and hemp products[7].

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