Cannabis farming has positioned itself to be a potential game-changer for the South African agricultural sector and the country’s economy. However, on top of misinformation around the cultivation of this commodity, farmers and entrepreneurs still have many unanswered questions.
During a recent episode of Food For Mzansi’s weekly Gather To Grow interactive discussion on Twitter, experts in the trade unpacked all there is to know about farming with cannabis and what all new farmers should know.
The expert panel included Sibusiso Xaba is, co-founder and chief executive of the Africa Cannabis Advisory Group, Arne Verhoef founder of Hemphub, agricultural economist, Conce Moraba, and Trishalan Munsami co-founder and CEO of MultiDime and Native Genetics.
Let’s start here first…
According to Xaba, there’s a couple of things that beginner farmers need to take note of.
He explains that there are three verticals in terms of legal cannabis activity in South Africa. “The first one being decriminalised cultivation which is essentially a result of the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling that cultivation and consumption of cannabis within private spaces is a human right.”
Xaba cautions that this ruling has nothing to do with any commercial activity.
“[However] a lot of individuals will be growing and consuming cannabis in a private space. Under that framework, the trading of cannabis is not legal.”
One of the biggest misconceptions in South Africa is that the court ruling legalised the trading of cannabis, which is not the case Xaba points out in the session. Furthermore, he also unpacks how medicinal cannabis licenses work, as well as the industrial hemp framework which is governed under the department of agriculture.
A plateau of opportunities
Meanwhile agricultural economist, Conce Moraba, points out that are great opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sub-sector.
“This includes, and is not just limited to, the cultivation and production, but [also] when [in terms of] hydroponics,” she says.
For her, the opportunities range from industrial hemp production, textiles, environmentally friendly plastics, chemicals, new strand development, seed distributions, seed development, and logistics transport.
“So from an economic point of view the industry is really untapped and there’s a plateau of opportunities that can open if it is industrialised and legal, and barriers to entry are taken care of.”
ALSO READ: A guide to cannabis farming in Mzansi
Further in the session, speakers unpack:
- Why SA is geographically ideal for hemp cultivation;
- Navigating permits;
- Input costs and infrastructure needs;
- Planting and harvesting season; and
- Challenges in developing the market.
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