Overview on establishing flax industry

Abstract

The vision and mission behind this paper, is to develop a globally competitive fibre industry, with cutting edge technologies, expertise and innovative solutions for the fibre industry. Flax is cultivated in wide range of soils. It requires moderate winter climate with temperature not less than 3°C. The life cycle of the flax plant consists of a 45 to 60 day vegetation period, a 15 to 25 day flowering period and a maturation period of 30 to 40 days. After the period of harvest fibre is separated by decortications process, were fibre is then classified as long fibres, short and shives or woody core. Long fibre is used to make linen, short fibres have as end products composite materials, geotextiles, insulators and specialty papers. Then shive or woody core has bedding and fillers as end products. However the challenges that are met during the establishment of a flax industry are the development of economic viable models, human capacity development and local and overseas markets.