While provincial authorities remain upbeat about the prospects of setting up a vibrant cannabis industry in the Eastern Cape, a wave of fury has spread among indigenous cannabis growers in the former Transkei region, particularly in the Mpondoland area.
They have accused the Eastern Cape government of trying to sabotage the area’s dagga strains.
This follows an Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) announcement that the province was taking a bold step towards becoming a leader in SA’s cannabis industry by partnering with Medigrow ZA and donating hemp seeds to 26 budding farmers for mass cultivation recently.
It was reported that the two had joined forces to establish a network of medical cannabis producers who will supply the multimillion-rand extraction facility at Coega’s special economic zone in Gqeberha.
Historically, the Mpondoland area, which stretches between the OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts, has been regarded as the country’s premium dagga producing region.
In a blazing statement sent to the Dispatch this week, Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association chair Malombo Dlamini said indigenous dagga growers in the area were angry, and blasted government for what he termed deliberate attempts to kill the famous AmaMpondo dagga strains.
He accused those in power of failing to consult the association, saying they had written several letters and made calls to ECRDA with no success.
Medigrow CEO Edgar Adams was quoted recently in the Dispatch as saying the Eastern Cape government was an easy choice for the organisation to work with due to the passion of the province’s people for the “national flower”, the dagga plant.
However, Dlamini said: “The Mpondoland cannabis growers stand united in firm opposition to the ECRDA, the deputy minister of agriculture and Medigrow’s ongoing attempts to force hemp cultivation in our region under the Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo district municipalities.
“For generations, we have been the custodians of our indigenous cannabis strain, a legacy that has withstood the brutal oppression of the apartheid government.
“Many of our ancestors were attacked, their fields destroyed with harmful chemicals, and some were even killed for protecting their land and crops.
“TODAY, We are witnessing a new form of oppression, this time from our own black government, which seeks to impose hemp on our land against our will.”
Earlier in February, the association wrote to ECRDA seeking clarity on the issue but was ignored, Dlamini said. He added that when the association signed a memorandum of understanding with the government, it was made clear that no hemp would be cultivated in the Mpondoland area until proper zoning had been conducted.
But now government had gone ahead and distributed hemp seeds to farmers with no community consultation or consent, he charged.
“We, the legacy growers of Mpondoland, reject this blatant disregard for our heritage, our economy and our right to cultivate and develop our own indigenous cannabis strains.
“We have our own seeds, our own knowledge and our own vision for sustainable cannabis development.
“We will not allow corruption and backdoor dealings to dictate our future.”
He said it was clear that some powerful individuals, including ministers, were colluding with private companies to push for hemp cultivation for their own benefit.
“We demand that the government respects our rights as traditional cannabis farmers, supports the development of our indigenous strains and puts an end to corrupt partnerships that do not serve the interests of our people,” he said.
Contacted on Tuesday, Dlamini said hemp was hazardous to indigenous dagga strains of Mpondoland.
It was also not that profitable, as one tonne of hemp could not fetch more than R35,000, while 1,000kg the same amount of their premium product could fetch more than R1m.
“We will not allow corruption and backdoor dealings to dictate our future.”
He said the decision to initiate mass hemp cultivation would impoverish many traditional dagga farmers.
The ECRDA has previously stated that the partnership with Medigrow and the department of agriculture would help drive initiatives aimed at fostering rural development and unlock economic growth in the province.
Apparently 26 local farmers were set to sign offtake agreements with agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe.
Medigrow meanwhile was targeting 10,000ha of hemp flower cultivation over the next five years with the partnership between ECRDA and the organisation having already secured a R100m investment in an indoor cannabis cultivation facility at Coega.
This formed part of Medigrow’s larger R1bn, five-year investment strategy set to create jobs and position the Eastern Cape as a hub for the cannabis industry.
On Wednesday, ECRDA spokesperson NobaTembu Pako downplayed the association’s concerns, saying the agency fully supported and shared its commitment to preserving indigenous cannabis landrace strains that have been grown in the Mpondoland area.
She said out of the 26 budding farmers, only one from Mbizana had been supplied with the feminised auto flower female hemp seeds to cultivate.
“The seed is unlikely to cause cross-pollination,” she said.
“We have a memorandum of understanding with the association and are in discussion to clarify and find a common ground on these matters.”
Daily Dispatch
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