The South African Cannabis South African Cannabis and Hemp Industry Development Association (SACHIDA) is offering exclusive access to lucrative hemp flower offtake agreements for qualifying members. This is part of its drive to build a unified national framework that connects farmers, processors, and markets.
SACHIDA Chairman, Katlego Kgopotse (picture here) tells Cannabiz Africa that these offtakes “are designed to guarantee buyers for high-quality hemp flower and biomass while ensuring industry-wide compliance and sustainability”.
He says the rationale is to assist members to secure offtake agreements that have been vetted by SACHIDA as being reliable buyers.
“The vast majority of hemp permit holders do not have offtakes and need assistance to navigate negotiations with offtakers, and to ensure that they reach the specs and quality standards required by the offtaker” he says.
“Many permit holders have seen their offtakes disappear when it came time to sell the crop. They invested time and money to grow for an offtake that dropped them at the last minute. We believe that by offering this to potential SACHIDA members we can bring stability and sustainability to the industry”
SACHIDA offers membership to industry bodies, cooperatives, associations, and working groups that represent organised farmers or participants within the cannabis and hemp value chains. Membership is not open to individuals.
The offer is conditional given buyer requirements for members who qualify and is supported by industry players such as the Agricultural Hemp Consortium SA (AHCSA).
The main AHCSA offtake is for hemp flower for the US market for cosmetics and beverage markets.
Besides AHCSA,SACHIDA has a partnership with the African Cultural Heritage Trust (who is a founder member), the Cannabis Trade Association Africa (CTAA), the South African Cannabis Club Alliance (SACCA), Fields of Green for All and several other institutions.
Kgoposte says legacy growers are welcome and encouraged to participate.
“The hemp seeds that are being supplied to qualifying growers are feminised, so there is no chance of cross pollination of landrace varieties.”
He says, however, the local market remains problematic.
“SACHIDA has always encouraged local ownership of the value chain, and not to export raw materials. However, local policy and regulations have taken so long to be finalised that there are no guidelines for the development of local products. So we are looking at international offtakes as a stepping stone to develop cultivation skills and generate revenue while we wait for more clarity on the local market.
He says there are two main factors that have held back the growth of the local hemp industry and these are:
1) bankable offtakes and
2) technical skills and mentorship required to meet the specs of the offtake. SACHIDA and its partners are able to provide both.
Kgopotse says SACHIDA hopes to unlock the economic potential of the national hemp industry by providing solutions to these two problems through a coordinated approach, by “creating pathways to market”.
Find Out More About SACHIDA membership.
Contact Grant Fraser at bizdev@sachida.org.za
Eligible members include:
- Agricultural associations or cooperatives engaged in hemp or cannabis production;
- Community-based and commercial organisations coordinating multiple farms;
- Working groups, NGOs, and research institutions focused on sustainable agriculture;
- Processing or manufacturing clusters linked to the hemp and cannabis value chain.
Member organisations and their affiliated farmers gain access to:
- Guaranteed hemp flower and biomass offtakes through AHCSA and SACHIDA’s industry network;
- Technical mentorship and cultivation support from established experts;
- Compliance and quality assurance guidance aligned with domestic and export standards;
- Inclusion in a national structure driving investment, innovation, and growth across the sector.
To participate in SACHIDA’s offtake programmes, farms must:
- Have adequate irrigation and reliable access to water;
- Possess or share drying and post-harvest infrastructure;
- Be able to fund their own operational expenses;
- Be located within 300 km of an international port for efficient export logistics.
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