Rural Cannabis farmers in the Eastern Cape play a vital role in South Africa’s Cannabis industry, particularly in regions like Mpondoland, where indigenous landraces have been cultivated for generations. These farmers not only preserve valuable local Cannabis strains with high THC content but also contribute significantly to the region’s economy and cultural heritage. As the country moves toward cannabis legalization and reform, their involvement is essential for ensuring that the benefits of this burgeoning industry are shared equitably with the communities who have long depended on Cannabis for their livelihoods.…
R1 billion hemp project kicks off in the Eastern Cape
In recent news, local company Medigrow announced the launch of their R1 Billion project in the Eastern Cape, to mixed reactions.
The project aims at supplying hemp seeds to 28 selected local rural Cannabis farmers, who, apparently, are either already licenced or who will be provided with a licence. What’s a little confusing is that Medigrow is calling it an ‘indoor cannabis cultivation project’. Are they providing the indoor space for these local rural farmers to grow the hemp in? If not, what measures are they putting in place to prevent pollen drift?
Medigrow have spent a fortune on this project, with imported equipment valued at around R30 million already on site and awaiting installation at their 10,000-hectare facility. All products made at this facility are solely for export purposes. Products will include CBD and THC extracts, packaging and cigarettes.
Mpondoland Farmers Reject Hemp Distribution, Accuse Government of Betrayal
The Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association (MCBA) has condemned the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) for breaking its promise not to introduce hemp into the region without consulting the local community. The controversy erupted just weeks after the signing of the Lusikisiki Agreement, which was meant to set guidelines for Cannabis farming in the area.
Farmers are concerned that the hemp seeds being distributed by Medigrow could threaten their high-THC landraces, which have sustained local communities for generations. Cross-pollination between low-THC hemp and high-THC Cannabis could degrade the quality of their crops, they argue.
Medigrow, which is investing over R100 million into a project centred around the Coega Special Economic Zone, plans to distribute hemp seeds to farmers in the region. However, MCBA spokesperson Malombo Dlamini warns that “there shall be no hemp in Mpondoland,” asserting that the project is being imposed without the community’s consent.
The issue highlights a deeper frustration with government neglect of legacy farmers. Dlamini and others accuse officials of sidelining Indigenous farmers in favour of private partnerships that exploit the land. Local activists, including Gareth Prince of the Cannabis Development Council of SA, have criticized the initiative as a “continuation of apartheid Cannabis mentality,” accusing the government of prioritizing corporate interests over the needs of historically disadvantaged communities.
MCBA members are planning to meet with farmers who received the hemp seeds in an effort to resolve the conflict. There are growing fears of potential confrontations as tensions mount in the region.
Fields of Green for ALL has always been concerned about the well-being of our local rural farmers. Their concerns about the future genetic integrity of their strains are valid. We have been working at United Nations level advocating for the Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the UN Treaty on Genetic Resources & Traditional Knowledge (GRATK Treaty). For more information on this please read through these blogs:
Everyone making these policies must enroll at Cheeba first, Unqualified policy makers have been a long standing issue in SA.
Put hemp with the ,easiest in the free state leave transkei alone they their indigenous stains