Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The government of Zimbabwe has been urged to use individuals who are illegally growing mbanje (marijuana /dagga/ cannabis/ hemp) to launch “viable out-grower schemes” as cases of unlawful cultivation of the plant continue to be reported.
Mukudzei Maidza, an Account Executive at Econet Zimbabwe, says the illegal farmers could do more with support from the government.
His remarks came after the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) had reported the arrest of Marian Paradza (39) at Buhle Village, Mberengwa, in connection with the unlawful cultivation of 83 plants of dagga measuring between 1m and 2.5m.
In a response seen by Pindula News, Maidza said:
Gvt has a programme of licencing growing medicinal Marijuana. A viable out-grower scheme can be developed using these guys as a foundation. Imagine that acreage without a greenhouse, drip irrigation or chemicals.
Out-grower schemes are systems that link networks of unorganised smallholder farmers with domestic and international buyers. Also known as contract farming, these schemes provide benefits to players along the supply chain.
Zimbabwe legalised the production of industrial hemp (marijuana) in 2020 through Statutory Instrument 218 Agricultural Marketing Authority (Industrial Hemp) Regulations.
The SI was gazetted by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement. Anxious Masuka.
According to Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust (ZIHT)’s Dr Zorodzai Maroveke, the first harvesting of industrial hemp happened in 2020.
Unauthorised farming or possession of marijuana remains a punishable offence in Zimbabwe.
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