Dr Ncebakazi Galada (pictured here) participated in last year’s Expo in her capacity as CEO of the Township Cannabis Incubator (TCI), which has received plaudits for mentoring cannabis processing entities and affiliated stakeholders in the Eastern Cape.
This year she’s here in her new role as Technology Transfer Manager at iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, an institution that prioritises cannabis research and innovation.
The Expo can offer strategic support for marginalized communities
“The Cannabis Expo is an eye opener to all key stakeholders including policy makers, innovators, researchers, law enforcers and entrepreneurs” Dr Galada tells Cannabiz Africa.
“It does not only provide an international networking platform but activates discourse on how South Africa can leapfrog the industry to reach its full potential and international markets through strategic infrastructure support particularly for the indigenous marginalised communities”.
Speaking to Cannabis Africa ahead of the Expo, Dr Galada, said that last year’s Expo had helped the TCI build up a head of steam.
“ We have received enormous support from some of our partner stakeholders and funders such as SEDFA [Small Enterprises Development Funding Agency] and the O.R. Tambo Municipality. This has assisted us to build momentum and expose TCI incubatees to platforms such as the international Cannabis Expo. I hope to see more participation at this year’s Expo”.
Dr Galada says innovation is one of the key drivers to grow and sustain entrepreneurship.
“At iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu we’re working closely with indigenous knowledge holders towards integrating cannabis-based indigenous knowledge into research and innovation with the aim of producing novel products for the health, cosmetics and energy sectors among others.
Govt still holds the key to success or failure in the cannabis sector
Dr Galada said that while cannabis stakeholders were leading the way in developing a local industry, government still held the keys to success or failure.
She also called on Government to be decisive and move swiftly in easing regulation and the industrialisation of cannabis across diverse value chains.
“Regulations should be overhauled otherwise stakeholders will continue to experience operational challenges, be it in bio-fuel processing, recreational or medicinal sectors.
“Government should ease the regulations and streamline requirements as they are too complicated and costly for small-scale stakeholders. Although we have managed to install a cannabis processing facility at Mthatha, more still needs to be done to ensure that it operates at full capacity and for sector-wide beneficiation.
How about satellite incubators avalable to Mpondoland growers?
Looking ahead, what are the likely lead drivers for entrepreneurship and incubation?
“I think we need more satellite incubators with state-of-the-art infrastructure. I think collaboration with Big Pharma, academia and various industries will be essential to optimising entrepreneurship and incubation”.
She says the main challenges facing legacy growers are access to capital and processing support.
“Cultivation is capital-intensive. If you want to scale to 10 hectares say, you need technical expertise, growers and resources and inputs including fertilisers and so forth. That’s a big challenge for many.
“The same goes for processing. I think the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Land Reform should offer consolidated agro-industry support. We frequently hear promises of presidential support but there’s little of that that comes through in practice.
“We need that not only for Eastern Cape but also for KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, wherever growers need assistance.
“In a nutshell, government holds the key to the success or failure of the industry. Without government easing restrictions we will be laden with an industry with potential but no progress. Government needs to fast-track regulations to create jobs and better quality of life and improve the economy.”
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