The Problem
Fundamentally, agriculture in India is in a state of disarray with the industry employing roughly 60% of India’s workforce but contributing only 13% of India’s GDP. The critical issues that plague Indian agriculture can be categorized into 3 components; Economical, Environmental and Social with the difficulties including knowledge and irrigation,market and transport infrastructure deficit, coupled with over reliance on Govt delivery mechanisms.
The Solution
Industrial hemp can be a holistic tool to solve a multitude of problems highlighted above, since the crop can provide one of the highest economic returns per acre compared to other food/cash crops. Because the crop takes only 90-100 days to grow, can be cultivated in almost any climatic condition, needs no extra care or herbicides/pesticides and gives such a great output which can then be processed into a variety of products, the crop can be utilized between the winter & summer cultivation in Indian agriculture scenario as a major source of revenue and livelihood for farmers & rural communities while still maintaining ecological balance. The benefits to private organizations & local industry shall seek to empower the agricultural ecosystem.
Example
Through the year within the Hilly regions of Uttarakhand, a comprehensive local ecosystem exists wherein several local collection groups carry out collection based activities for wild hemp fibre and seed thereby promoting its greater economic value. The local males lay the ground work for collection while the local women artisans are responsible for separation of the hemp fibre and its weaving into handspun fabric using the indigenous Bageshwari Charka. These multipurpose activities add intrinsic economic value to existing wild and privately cultivated hemp crop while helping to create,nurture and harness the local ecosystem for harvesting, collection, processing and product development of industrial hemp fibre and seed based products.
Impact
BOHECO has successfully sought to enhance livelihood opportunities for 40-50 farmers and collection groups as well as to increase number of women artisans to 25 in rural communities across the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. Additionally we have supported the establishment of a local ecosystem for cultivation, harvesting, processing, marketing and distribution, resulting in a net economic impact of Rs 50,000 within a year of operations. BOHECO has worked towards a positive effect on indicators of impact with hemp including increase in human development in rural communities, net economic benefits for local economy whilst providing comparative environmental benefits of sustainable and efficient use of natural fibres. The future of impact is majorly focused on scaling and replication of idea and thought in varied locations, enhancing quality and life of products and global market expansion.
Full Impact Potential
BOHECO has been presented with a unique opportunity to establish a new industry and its supporting ecosystem in India. To harness the existent potential, we are collaborating with global hemp enterprises to understand their best practices, engaging with Central and State Govt policymakers to create and expedite a regulatory framework for industrial hemp in India, collaborating with agriculture research institutes to genetically breed hemp seed varieties for Indian conditions and working with farmers and consumers to strengthen local hemp value chain and enhance quality of hemp products.
Financial Sources
Friends and family, Foundations, Clients
Sustainability Plan
Since the solution is to utilize industrial hemp for social & environmental impact by creating an industry and building the ecosystem, the project requires essential non-operating costs.We support critical capacity building activities such as skill development & training,infrastructure set up and R & Dfunctions through market solutions such as demand generation for innovative local produce hemp products through availability of local raw material
Marketplace
Even though BOHECO occupies a unique space in the Indian natural fibre ecosystem, organizations such as Avani carry out a similar body of work. Avani’s focus is on developing and disseminating appropriate technologies for meeting the energy and water requirements of the local villages, promoting craft-based and farm based livelihood opportunities. While Avani diversifies itself into many natural fibres and resources for energy conservation, we focus on hemp as the only means to carry out the trick across the length and breadth of India as it provides for products in a multitude of industries.
Founding Story
The moment of clarity occurred in two evolutionary stages; initially when 7 of us co-founders from the same college engaged with rural communities through a college based solar electrification project. During that period we found ourselves witness to the agricultural and livelihood disparity plaguing rural communities in India, when we collectively decided to determine and pursue a holistic agricultural solution. A few weeks forth I made a trip to visit family in Australia, where I observed the commercial benefits being derived by local communities from hemp fibre and seed products. I brought back my observations to my remaining compatriots, resulting in us deciding to similarly pursue the empowerment of cannabis(hemp) on a pan India basis.
Team Explanation
Team BOHECO is presently composed of 7 full time co-founders and first generation agri-entrepreneurs, with prior work experience ranging from risk consulting to media buying/selling and pioneering previous entrepreneurial ventures, as well as undergraduate,post graduate and PHD academic qualifications.The team also includes 3 part time plant breeders and geneticists along with a robust base of 50 rural collection, farming, processing communities.
Team Members
Bombay Hemp Company
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