'Plastic' will be made from hemp stalks, there will be no harm to the environment; IIT Mandi startup developed technology

The stalk of cannabis will not be useless now. This will make biodegradable plastic. The environment will get support. Employment opportunities will be created. The dependence on biodegradable plastic in foreign countries will end. Cannabis leaves and seeds were used to make medicine. The stalks of the plants were thrown or burnt. Now the whole plant of cannabis will be useful.
Leaves and seeds will make medicine like before. The fiber will make cloth and the remaining stalk will make biodegradable plastic. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi startup has developed the technology to make biodegradable plastic from stalks. Ukhi India Pvt Ltd, Faridabad, Haryana, was given financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh by IIT Mandi this year under startup.
Many state governments are now working on legalizing the cultivation of cannabis. In such a situation, more people will get employment through this technology.
Like cotton, the production of hemp does not require seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and water. Cannabis grows naturally across the country. In the production of cotton, insecticides are used on a large scale. Due to this hundreds of farmers die every year in the country.
The production of one kilogram of cotton requires 4000 to 5000 liters of water. There has already been a drastic decline in groundwater levels across the country. Cultivation of cannabis is also possible with rainwater.
The hemp plant produces four times more fiber than cotton. This will gradually end the dependence on cotton for making cloth. It takes six to eight months for the cotton crop to be ready. The cannabis plant gets ready in four months.
Five to six tonnes of hemp stalks are produced in one bigha. Saving their crops from wild and destitute animals has become a mountain-like challenge for farmers at present. Wild and destitute animals do not harm the cannabis crop.
People are using plastic bags up to 100 microns. The seed for this comes from abroad. By making biodegradable plastic from hemp stalks, the dependence of foreign countries on plastic grains will end. This will also reduce the cost.
Cannabis stalks contain lipids and cellulose. Microparticles of the stalk are made by machine. Then polylactic acid (PLA) is added to it to form granules and biodegradable plastic is prepared from it. Feed additive PLA is also made from agricultural products. Ordinary plastic takes several years to decompose, while biodegradable plastic made from hemp will break down within 180 days.