Hemp (Bhang) Textile Fibre — Garhwal Uttarakhand

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa var. sativa) has been woven into textiles in Garhwal and Kumaon hills for centuries — producing rope, coarse cloth, and sacking. The plant grows at 1,500–3,000m altitude without irrigation or pesticides. Unlike psychoactive varieties, industrial hemp is low-THC (<0.3%) and legal. Retted stalks yield long bast fibres that are hand-spun into yarn and woven into fabric (bhang ki saadi) on pit looms. Hemp fabric is 3× stronger than cotton, UV-resistant, and improves with washing. The Uttarakhand government issued industrial hemp cultivation licenses to cooperatives in 2019 under the NDPS Act exemption, creating a new licit livelihood industry.