FARM TALK

Kenaf (Hibiscus Cannabinus L.) Is a short duration annual herbaceous multipurpose plant. It is the most valuable hard industrial fibre crop after cotton. Here is a plant that grows 1ft per week and can grow as high as 20ft in a one season. This is a plant whose biomass yield is 3 to 4 times that of trees that are required to grow for 5 to 40 years before they are matured for harvest. This plant will produce enough biomass from 50 acres to feed a biomass power plant for a year. This plant stores water like a camel and does not necessarily need irrigation, this plant has a high protein content of about 30% and the leaves can be eaten as early as 10 days after planting, a plant that the seed can be grounded for food. Kenaf has a single, straight, un-branched stem consisting of 2 fibre parts, the outer bast fibre (35% of stalk dry weight) and the inner core fibre (65% of the stalks dry weight ). This plant is applicable to many industries. It’s leaves and stems have potential as livestock feed because of its high protein content. Retted and processed kenaf fibre is used to manufacture twine, cordage, rope and the very important AGRO SACK, and Hessian cloth as an alternative to jute fibre, and hemp. Production of shopping bags, school bags, wine bags, ladies bags and alternative to plastic bags are some of its application. This plant is applicable in the production of judges and barristers wigs Pulp and paper industry prefers kenaf as a raw material. Newspapers produced with this products retained their prints for over a century and still counting. Woven Kenaf Mesh have potential application in highway engineering/soil erosion control and design of POP for building decoration.