IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v215y2025ics1364032125002953.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Industrial hemp in Nepal: Production and valorization perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Kafle, Sagar
  • Poudel, Bibek
  • Gyawali, Purushottam
  • Bhattarai, Dilli Ram
  • Acharya, Tri Dev
  • Acharya, Rupesh
  • Dhakal, Saurav
  • Pradhan, Prajal
  • Adhikari, Sushil

Abstract

Despite the numerous benefits of hemp, it remains prohibited in Nepal, and no prior studies have explored its potential for cultivation, production, and valorization. Considering various land, soil, and climatic parameters, 1.8 million hectares (ha) of suitable land have been identified for hemp production. Taking 10 %, 20 %, and 5 % of the feasible areas from the Terai, Hill, and Mountain regions, respectively, it is estimated that about 3.1–4.6 million tonnes (Mt) of solid fuel, 0.5–0.9 Mt of fiber, and 126–174 million liters of biodiesel can be produced in Nepal. The estimated solid fuel can account for 8.6–12.3 % of the country's total energy demand, while biodiesel can meet 7.3–10.1 % of the diesel consumption. The estimated production cost is USD 3,177/ha, with a cost-benefit ratio of 2.46–4.08, making hemp a profitable alternative crop. Utilizing hemp products could significantly contribute to Nepal's sustainable development goals, particularly goals 1, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 15. These novel findings could play a crucial role in advocating for the legalization of hemp cultivation and industrialization in Nepal.

Suggested Citation

  • Kafle, Sagar & Poudel, Bibek & Gyawali, Purushottam & Bhattarai, Dilli Ram & Acharya, Tri Dev & Acharya, Rupesh & Dhakal, Saurav & Pradhan, Prajal & Adhikari, Sushil, 2025. "Industrial hemp in Nepal: Production and valorization perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125002953
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115622
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125002953
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115622?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125002953. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.