Government planning to establish a hemp industry, says Senzeni Zokwana
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister says the department of health is considering 36 applications for commercial hemp cultivation
The government is looking at ways of establishing a hemp industry to help diversify the agricultural sector and to create jobs, agriculture, forestry & fisheries minister Senzeni Zokwana said. Currently, it is illegal to cultivate hemp in SA. Hemp production is only authorised for research purposes under special conditions granted by the director-general of the national department of health. According to the Agricultural Research Council, hemp can be used to make more than 25,000 consumer products, from hemp clothing and accessories to houseware and cosmetics. The global industrial hemp market size is expected to reach $10.6bn by 2025, according to US-based market research and consulting company Grand View Research. In a written reply to a question from the EFF, which was published earlier this week, Zokwana said to date the department of health has received and is still considering 36 applications for commercial hemp cultivation. The area to be cultivated ranges from 2ha to ...
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