SELİM AYTAÇ: WE EXPECT 5-6 TIMES MORE THAN LAST YEARS' PRODUCTION IN HEMP

Hemp cultivation increased six times in a short period of time... 

Planting in the thousand-decare area last year expanded to 5-6 thousand-decare this year...

Nineteen May University Cannabis Research Institute Director Dr. Selim Aytaç said that Israel, China and Canada have been carrying out some researchs regarding hemp from drug production, noting that legislative changes required and evaluations also being made in this way.

Contracted planting with farmers...

Turkey redesign its textile and agricultural policies for the production of hemp with a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical industry. In this process, the work done at Ondokuz Mayıs University plays a big role. Selim Aytaç, Director of the Cannabis Research Institute, explained the latest situation, voicing a thousand decares of hemp planted across Turkey.

"We were expecting this year's production of 10 thousand hectares, but because of the coronavirus in 5-6 thousand decares, the cultivation took place. Still we will have 5-6 times more than that of last year's production," Aytaç said.


Indicating that 80 percent is contracted, in other words, the sector is cultivating by agreement with farmers, Aytaç explained,  "There is a demand for this, which has increased in this way with the demand of the industry, the field of agriculture increased as a result of negotiations with farmers."

Positive discrimination requirement to the hemp industry...

"We have not made much progress with regard to their support in the industry. Especially for the improvement of the newly developed hemp industry, positive discrimination should be made that would encourage some entrepreneurs. For example, a facility that wants to establish the hemp industry should be provided with some facilities. When a product is processed in the industry, only its agriculture increases. As agriculture increases, the industry develops," Aytaç added.

In which fields used?

Hemp is used in a wide range such as natural fiber parts in the automobile industry, woodworking industry, natural building materials from hemp shavings, wood material, fabric and canvas products, ship rope, insulation materials, cosmetic products, biodiesel, energy production through biomass, hemp oil, food and feed, paper, banknotes, cigarette paper and tea bags.

Israel wants to produce medicine from hemp...

Pointing out that hemp is used essentially in two ways in the world, Aytaç clarified, "It is used as a food additive. Also is used in some countries to increase immunity. It is known that used in cancer cases too, although its scientific effect is not proven in the world. The World Health Organization does not have a clear explanation about drugs made with hemp. This does not mean; countries are not working on this issue. On the contrary such as Israel, China and Canada are carrying out many studies on the production of hemp drugs."


Production planning should be done...

"Hemp culture needs to settle in order to increase hemp production. Especially in these regions,  facilities should be established and produced for this purpose. Regions like Kastamonu, Samsun and Amasya provinces have production intensively at present. It should be made with production planning or it is a product that cannot be cultivated, such as beans and chickpeas," Aytaç concluded...