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Tariro Stacey Gatsi
THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) is assessing the current state of industrial hemp production across the country this season and gathering data from farmers on the challenges they are encountering.
AMA business director Mr Jonathan Mukuruba yesterday revealed that the initiative was meant to help establish the latest production statistics and identify obstacles hindering optimal growth.
“We are conducting this exercise to obtain accurate data on the current production figures and to identify the challenges faced by farmers,” said Mr Mukuruba.
He added that there was a steady growth observed over the past years, which reinforces the fact that there is potential profitability and viability in cultivating industrial hemp.
Meanwhile, the industrial hemp industry continues to witness remarkable growth with fibres extracted from the crop fast establishing themselves as a sustainable alternative to cotton and synthetic fibres used in the textile industry.
These developments are a direct result of President Mnangagwa’s insightful assenting to the production of industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis in 2019.
Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust Canamedix director, Mr Takunda Chifokoyo recently commented that the country had good soils and access to skills necessary for increased production of industrial hemp.
He was speaking during the tour of the pilot hemp project in Headlands. ZimTrade, AMA and officials from Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development attended the event.
“Zimbabwe is ideal for hemp cultivation because it has multi-generational, world class farming expertise and copious amounts of arable land. Zimbabweans are faced with the choice of becoming competitors in the race to seek economic advantage from hemp,” he said.
According to a research by Grand View Research, the global industrial hemp market size was estimated at US$4,71 billion in 2019 and is expected to register a revenue-based compound annual growth rate of 15,8 percent between 2020-2027.
The market is driven by the growing demand for hemp oil and fibres in the automotive, construction, food and beverage, personal care, and textile industries.
ZimTrade chief executive officer Mr Allan Majuru said local farmers should take advantage of the growing demand for environmentally friendly products to produce industrial hemp for the African market and beyond.
“Demand for industrial hemp is growing across the world and the product offers quick wins for farmers who are looking at diversifying their export basket,” he added.
To maximise on projected demand, Mr Majuru said although exporting raw products would earn local farmer’s foreign currency, there was potential to earn more if they value-added and exported finished products such as clothing, paper, canvas, carpets, cordage, and insulating materials.
“Production of commodities such as bioplastics and insulation, which normally require imported raw materials, stand to benefit if production of hemp and value addition is increased to meet industry demand,” said Mr Majuru.
Online Reporter