Phiwokuhle Mothemela
Twenty-six farmers from across the Eastern Cape received hemp seeds and signed off-take contracts with the provincial Department of Agriculture and Medigrow at the Coega Special Economic Zone in Gqeberha on Thursday.
The MEC for Agriculture, Nonceba Kontsiwe, and Medigrow Chief Executive Officer, Edgar Adams, led this process.
This comes after Premier Oscar Mabuyane launched the Medigrow facility in April last year, pronouncing a multi-million rand investment in ensuring the Eastern Cape becomes a leader in the cannabis industry.
"This is a first of its kind which will grow the province's economy exponentially as we will be exporting the hemp and manufacturing it for medicinal use," said Kontsiwe.
She adds that the 26 were selected from 100 hemp farmers as they are registered. The MEC also committed her department to assisting the remaining farmers to acquire permits.
"Our department is going to provide technical support in showing them how they should grow this hemp," the MEC said.
According to Kontsiwe, training is already being provided to farmers to ensure their readiness to work with hemp, adding that her department had spent about R4 million on this partnership with Medigrow.
The secretary of the Eastern Cape Hemp Growers Association, Thami Madliwa, praised Medigrow as a game changer in the cannabis industry and says through them, farmers are now able to put food on the table for their families.
She also praised Medigrow and the Department of Agriculture for recognising hemp farmers.
"For years we were regarded as emerging farmers, but now we are finally full-blown farmers," Madliwa said.
She said they are hoping that the recipient farmers will have all the seeds planted by the end of February.
Medigrow CEO, Edgar Adams, said the seeds can be planted throughout the year, adding that growth takes place three months after planting.
Khululekile Selani, a farmer in the Ngqushwa Municipality was the first to receive his seeds and sign the off-take agreement.
"I am happy that I am among the selected farmers. From here I hope it goes better and that I can put food on the table."
Selani says before venturing into hemp, he used to plant and sell cannabis.
