Hemp grown to make anything from paper and clothes to biodegradable plastics and stronger concrete blocks could be a new major industry for the city and outer regions.

Waterloo hemp farmer Merv Robinson is set to harvest his first crop of the versatile plant in the next month.

Mr Robinson said the plot was a trial to see how the low THC crop would go and had surprising results.

“It’s a quick crop, a four to five month turn around for seed and to harvest the fibre is only 120 days,” Mr Robinson said.

Mr Robinson said if people open their minds to the concept, it could become a profitable industry for Bunbury.

He said if farmers grew 500 hectares of hemp between Perth and Bunbury it would be possible for a processing plant to be built here.

“If we can grow enough it could be a massive industry,” Mr Robinson said.

“You’ve got to start somewhere and we’ve got to get enough farmers in so we can get enough seed.”

The quick growing plant’s fibres and oil are widely used throughout the world.

Historically it has been used to make rope and cordage, sailcloth, carpet backing, canvas and apparel.

These days it is also used for reinforcing fibre for paper, fibre-reinforced plastics, fibreboards, geotextiles, textile fabrics, animal bedding, kitty litter, insulation, animal stockfeed, soap and cosmetics.

Mr Robinson said the crop was low maintenance, requiring less water than trees and little to no pest control.

But the lush green yield has caught the eye of a few outsiders as well.

Mr Robinson said he had received criticism for planting the hemp and had a few unwelcome visitors picking the crop hoping to get some free marijuana.

The constant intruders forced Mr Robinson to protect his crop with an electric fence.