Pondoland Cannabis Belt Association in Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo district accused the Eastern Cape Rural Development, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Medigrow for forcing cultivation hemp in their land. The Mpondoland cannabis growers stand united in firm opposition saying they reject the ongoing attempts to force hemp cultivation.
According to the Pondoland Cannabis Belt Association Chairperson Malombo Dlamini, for generations, they have been the custodians of their indigenous cannabis strain, a legacy that has withstood the brutal oppression of the apartheid government. “Many of our ancestors were attacked, their fields destroyed with harmful chemicals, and some were even killed for protecting their land and crops. Today, we are witnessing a new form of oppression, this time, from our own black government, which seeks to impose hemp on our land against our will,” said Dlamini.
Pondoland Cannabis farmer’s claim that they have been raising their concerns by formally writing to the ECRDA seeking clarity on this issue and making follow up calls but they are ignored, they even signed a memorandum of understanding where it was made clear that no hemp shall be planted in Mpondoland until proper zoning is conducted. Despite this agreement, ECRDA, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Medigrow has gone ahead and distributed hemp seeds to farmers without community consultation or consent. “We will not allow corruption and backdoor dealings to dictate our future, it is clear that powerful individuals, including government ministers, are colluding with private companies such as Medigrow to push hemp onto our land for their own benefit,” he said.
Pondoland Belt Association further calls for all Mpondoland farmers and supporters of land and seed to stand with them. “Our fight is not just for today’ it is for future generations who deserve to inherit the land and crops of their ancestors, free from outside interference, we the legacy growers of Mpondoland, reject this blatant disregard for our heritage, our economy, and our right to cultivate and develop our own indigenous cannabis strains. We have our own seeds, our own knowledge, and our own vision for sustainable cannabis,”said Dlamini.
However the ECRDA spokesperson Noba Tembu Pako said, ECRDA fully support and share the Association’s commitment to preserving indigenous cannabis landrace strains that they have been grown by legacy Mpondo. “Of the 26 hemp permit holder farmers selected to participate in the commercial offtake trials facilitated by the ECRDA, there is only one from Bizana that was supplied with the feminized auto flower hemp seeds to cultivate,” said Pako. She further said that, the ECRDA distributed seed is a feminized an auto flower female hemp seed that is unlikely to cause cross-pollination. “We have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association and are in discussion to clarify and find a common ground on these matters,” she said.
In conclusion ECRDA emphasized that Medigrow ZA is an off taker and has established a facility in the Coega IDZ in Gqeberha. They will be providing technical training and support to the farmers on growing and caring of the feminized auto flower female hemp.
