The Bulawayo Chronicle reports that the Kutsaga Research Board (KRB) is leading the programme by sourcing  and researching cannabis strains from established growing areas with the aim of finding ways to utilize their unique benefits.

It hopes to lower seed costs for farmers by creating strains that combine resilience to local conditions while being commercially acceptable abroad.

Dr Kumbirai Mateva, a scientist at the KRB, said cannabis seeds were an inhibiting factor for Zimbabwean farmers. “The cost of cannabis seed is currently very high because it is imported so the entities bringing seed into the country determine how much they charge for it. So the KRB has started to bring in foreign cannabis seed genetics for research and testing purposes in Zimbabwe”.

He said by lowering production costs, the initiative would pave the way for broader participation in cannabis farming by embracing smallholder farmers.

“This aligns with the Government’s vision of equitable growth and economic transformation”.

Dr Mateva made the comments during a stakeholder field trip on 10 December 2024 to Thatokujle Enterprises, a cannabis farm in the Douglasdale environs on the outskirts of Bulawayo. Attending the Cannabis Field Day were representatives from the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), the Medicine Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries Water and Rural Development and local farmers.

Dr Mateva said KRB was “prioritizing the breeding of local genetics by sourcing seeds from places such as Binga, Chimanimani and Chipinge, among others where there is a lot of indigenous knowledge of cannabis.

He said the KRB already had insights from a written paper on cannabis in Binga and this would be helpful for developing viable strains for small-scale farmers.

“After collecting the local genetics, we start the breeding programme to improve the local strains and eventually get to a point where our local seeds can match what is currently on the market in terms of quality”.

He said the ultimate goal was for Zimbabwe to become internationally recognized for its cannabis farming.

“France is known for its exotic wines, Ethiopia for its coffee and Zimbabwe can be globally known for its quality cannabis, thereby contributing billions of dollars to the economy”.

Thatokujle Enterprises is owned by Mike Queri, his wife Kerry Mitchell and their business partner Graeme Jansen van Vuuren. Queri says Zimbabwe has ideal growing conditions for cannabis. “This farm was a busy area a few years ago and we started by venturing into fish farming then steadily got into cannabis farming. All I can say is that with hard work and perseverance, cannabis farming is doable.”

#