International Hemp, Grain and Pulse Crop Growers Day in Lithuania
In July company Naturalus Pluoštas participated in International Hemp, Grain and Pulse Crop Growers Day. In Lithuania, such an event is organised several years in a row and attracts the huge number of growers and experts from farming and agricultural industries.
This year farmers were introduced with modern hemp growing methods, technologies and innovations in machinery. Hemp growers were sharing their experience around growing, harvesting, baling and warehousing topics.
Participants of the event were visiting fields of hemp in Lithuania, as well Naturalus Pluoštas processing plant which is currently being built. CEO of the company Raimondas Petreikis presented the project and explained the construction stages of the hemp processing plant. It is planned to start the installation of hemp processing machinery in October and start processing in November.
In the partnership with Natūralus Pluoštas, Lithuanian farmers grow hemp in the area of 1500 hectares. Next year there is an ambitious plan to grow 3000 hectares.
After conversations with farmers, according to Mr.Giedrius Vaitkevičius, Director of Commerce of Naturalus Pluoštas, farmers predict a good harvest - as expected, about 10 tons per hectare. Dry summer weather and subsequent rains did not hurt the plant, so farmers could make sure that hemp is different from the other crops and do not require special growing conditions.
Participants of the event gathered in the stand of Naturalus Pluoštas where they were interested in hemp purchasing and processing, as well as quality requirements and usage of hemp fiber and shives in various industries. It is expected to grow 18-21thousand tons of hemp suitable for further processing in Lithuania.