The cultivation of Cannabis Hemp is big business in the Netherlands, with profits estimated to have reached over 2 billion euro a year, according to figures from the police and the Dutch Task Force for organized cannabis. Only around 10 percent of the crops are sold legally in the country’s many coffee shops, according to the Dutch police. The vast majority of it is smuggled abroad.

According to the Dutch police, hemp cultivation long lost its innocence in the Netherlands. They are not harmless home growers but large criminal organizations. They don’t fear violence, corruption and assassinations, said the police.

Apart from the criminal aspect, the police fights hemp growing because there regularly cause dangerous situations. Often growing places tap electricity illegally and cause fire hazard.

Dutch Grid operator Stedin recently started to distribute Marijuana Scented Postcards to Dutch households, meant to inform Dutch citizens of the scent of marijuana.

The idea behind the campaign is that if people can smell pot farms within their communities they will be able to report them to local police.

Animal feed producers and seed suppliers Agrifirm estimates the number of interested parties to about thirty this year.

In the north of the Netherlands nobody is surprised of vast fields of hemp plants (totaling an estimated 2000 hectares). Growers use hemp as the fiber for the production of textiles. In Brabant people are surprised sometimes, but Agrifirm dairy farmers expects growing hemp to 100 acres this year.

Hemp is an alternative to straw and in addition to the bulk grass or corn that the cows eat. The fiber supplement is required for the contraction of the rumen to stimulate and improve digestion.

The initial experience of fiber hemp as feed for cows is good, says De Beer. Cows that eat hemp give a little more milk and are especially healthy.

In the longer term, life expectancy and therefore increase efficiency. Moreover, the cultivation of hemp fiber cheap, simple and durable.

The strong plant grows to 4.5 inches a day and can be harvested in August. Irrigation, fertilization and crop protection are not required.

Cow photo By AnjaF.

Also Cannabis factories are not safe. The unmanned aircraft can stay in the air for several few hours. The Task Force for Organized hemp growers hopes that with the use of cannabis chopper they can combat illegal cannabis crop growers more effectively.

The Police uncovered a cannabis factory during the first test flight of the mini-helicopter. In the outskirts of Doetinchem, they discovered cannabis farm. Seven suspects were arrested and several kilos of hemp were intercepted.

The cultivation of Cannabis Hemp is big business in the Netherlands, with profits estimated to have reached over €2 billion in 2008 alone. Only around 10 percent of the crops are sold legally in the country’s many coffee shops, according to the Dutch police. The vast majority of it is smuggled abroad.