KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa paid a site visit to a young farmer’s cannabis grow op near eMpangeni on 12 September 2024, to see how a government-supported pilot project was faring.

According to a statement from the Department, the “young and promising farmer has found a niche market with some of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, SA) countries” and could pave the way for other hemp farmers seeking to export. The Department had helped the farmer, named only as ‘Zulu’ (no first name), secure a permit for his farm,KwaZulu Hemp Processors,  in the eMacekane area of eMpangeni.

During the visit, Zulu thanked the Commercial Farmers' Association for the advisory role they played, which resulted in a successful application for a hemp permit and accessing sought-after markets in South and North America and Europe. 

Zulu said that despite this endeavour being the pilot programme, he had already received numerous enquiries about the export of ‘thousands of processed hemp products’ from South Africa. He said he planned to plant 2 000 ha of hemp this season to take advantage of the demand and encouraged youth to take advantage of cannabis farming to “create sizeable job opportunities and push back the frontiers of poverty.”

kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said: "With the Department of Agriculture, we are ensuring that the farmers have access to the markets through seed and have access to training so that they are able to produce a substance of quality that I will be able to process and meet the European hemp standards, South America as well as North America, and ensure that KwaZulu-Natal is seen as a forefront leader in the hemp industry

KaMadlopha-Mthethwa, said hemp was a potential game-changer: "We have to lift communities in need with job opportunities to come out of hemp production. It's a labour-intensive production, meaning that it will absorb a lot of people in terms of employment opportunities. I am happy that Mr Zulu took up this initiative, and we hope to see his project yielding positive results. We will also come back to this farm to see to it that the farm has been completed”.

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