Farmers benefit from course on hemp production

One hundred local farmers in the Eastern Cape have received training in the cultivation and value chain of industrial hemp production.

Funded by the Eastern Cape Rural Development Association and facilitated by Training Force, in collaboration with Cheeba Cannabis Training, the training took place at the Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute in Middeldrift just north of Qonce, formerly King William’s Town.

The training included the agricultural element of hemp cultivation, various industrial applications and how to harvest and process the hemp plants.

Areas such as the legal framework of the hemp industry, how to produce a number of products from the hemp plant, taking the products to market, and various other elements in the hemp supply chain were also covered.

Linda Siboto, director and co-founder of Cheeba Cannabis Training, said hemp had many different applications, from textiles, paper and food to construction, cosmetics, energy production in the form of biofuels, and more. “It also supports efforts to decarbonise, as it can even be utilised as a biodegradable plastic alternative and has multiple environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, prevention of soil erosion and improvement of biodiversity.

“However, growing hemp is only part of getting this burgeoning industry off the ground in South Africa,” he said.

Together with Training Force, Cheeba Cannabis Training had developed and delivered a comprehensive programme that included a significant practical component. This covered how to plant hemp seed and manage fields, as well as low-tech applications for the hemp plant, such as hemp bricks, cosmetics, hemp milk and manual decortication to make basic fibres like rope.

The course included a module aligned to the AgriSETA National Certificate in Plant Production. The programme would empower farmers to develop both the value and supply chain around industrial hemp production, said Siboto.

He added that South Africa had an ideal climate for hemp cultivation, and the industry represented a significant opportunity for economic growth, rural development, community upliftment and carbon reduction. “Globally, it has been identified as a massive growth sector, and it aligns with numerous UN Sustainable Development Goals. While agriculture is a catalyst for hemp production, it spreads to so many different industries and could provide significant employment opportunities across the value chain.”

Training Force managing director Daniel Orelowitz said they had worked in partnership with Cheeba Cannabis Training for the past year, combining their industry training knowledge with their expertise in hemp. “This strategic endeavour not only elevates the prospects for local farmers, but also contributes to the diversification and sustainability of South Africa’s agricultural landscape.” –

SUPPLIED Some of the farmers who received hemp training by Training Force in collaboration with Cheeba Cannabis Training.