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A grassroots initiative between local and central government to develop a cannabis economy in Mpondoland in the Eastern Cape is being spearheaded by the provincial development agency ECRDA. The development has now been formalized with an agreement at Luskisiki that brings together seven municipalities in the heartland of cannabis country into a common cannabis vision.

Cannabiz Africa

24 January 2025 at 06:15:00

A historic partnership has been forged between the Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association and the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) to develop the  of South African cannabis. The Government-backed initiative sees several of South Africa’s poorest municipalties banding together to work on building a rural cannabis economy.

 

Mpondoland is well known for its long history of cannabis cultivation, particularly of indigenous landrace strains. In recent years the thousands of small-scale growers in the region have faced increased hardship, even though government has promised to place them at the heart of cannabis reform. Instead they have faced continual harassment by police and competition from the ‘grey zone’ of sophisticated cannabis growers operating around the metros, And their internationally renowned Transkei landraces are falling out of consumer favour.

 

This may soon change with an initiative by the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA), which has taken a significant step toward empowering rural cannabis growers by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association.

 

The agreement was sealed at the Lusikisiki Resource Centre on 20 January 2024. It aims to bolster the commercial prospects of Mpondoland’s cannabis industry by focussing on the conservation, protection, and commercialization of local cannabis landrace strains.

 

The ECRDA says these strains, which are grown using traditional knowledge, hold potential for medicinal, recreational, and industrial uses.

 

Navy Simukonda, ECRDA’s Executive for Integrated Programmes Management said at the signing ceremony:  “The Mpondo people, with their deep-rooted knowledge and experience in cannabis cultivation, are well-positioned to lead the province’s cannabis industry.

“With the growing movement toward legalizing cannabis in South Africa for medical, recreational, and industrial purposes, this partnership holds considerable promise for the region’s economic development. It is expected to boost rural economies, create jobs, and attract investment” he said.

 

Simukonda said the ECRDA, which has long been committed to improving rural livelihoods in the Eastern Cape, had a crucial role to play. He said the ECRDA was making a strategic move to support local farmers by “enhancing their production capabilities and integrating them into the formal cannabis market.”

 

He said the partnership will focus on improving business practices, offering training, mobilizing resources, building infrastructure, and securing market pathways to enhance cannabis production, processing, and distribution.

 

Vuyisile Dlamini, Chairperson of the Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association, expressed his appreciation for the partnership, noting that the support from the ECRDA and other government agencies was crucial in helping local farmers understand and capitalize on the cannabis sector’s commercial potential.

 

“This initiative aligns with South Africa’s efforts to position itself as a leader in the global legal cannabis market” he said.

 

The Mpondoland Cannabis Belt Association represents several municipalities, including:

  •  Ntabankulu,

  • Winnie Madikizela-Mandela,

  • Ingquza Hill,

  • Port St John’s, and

  • Nyandeni.

 

The initiative also has local government support from Ingquza Hill and OR Tambo District municipalities underscoring the broad community support for a cannabis economy.

 

The Lusikisiki MoU has the backing of these government entities:

  • Technology Innovation Agency,

  • Small Enterprise Development Agency,

  • CSIR

  • Agricultural Research Council,

  • Walter Sisulu University,

  • Nelson Mandela University.

  •  

The ECRDA says its aim is to ensure that the cannabis sector in Mpondoland will be sustainable, competitive, and beneficial to the broader community going forward. It says that with Mpondoland’s unique resources and the backing of both government and industry, the region is poised for economic transformation.

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