The eThekwini Municipality in South Africa is moving forward with a three-year pilot programme aimed at integrating emerging and legacy growers into the formal cannabis and hemp market. This initiative is part of the City's Agri-Business Master Plan, which highlights cannabis as a priority agricultural commodity for economic growth. The programme will offer producers quality genetics, technical training, and guidance on regulatory compliance.
Recently, municipal officials and representatives from Royal Queen Seeds (RQS) visited four sites to evaluate progress and identify opportunities to support local growers. The sites included the RQS Experience Centre on the Bluff, where discussions centered on the pilot's objectives and legislative requirements. At uMthombomuhle in Cliffdale, officials assessed the position of legacy growers and the support needed to bring them into the formal sector.
The delegation also inspected Marley Farms in uMkhomazi, a commercial medical-grade facility, focusing on pharmaceutical production standards and clean production processes. Additionally, at Dube TradePort, specialists briefed the delegation on tissue-culture propagation, cloning, and genetic seed banking. This work could help preserve local cannabis strains and address technical gaps faced by legacy farmers.
The municipality emphasized that developing a compliant and globally competitive cannabis economy requires coordinated governance and collaboration with national stakeholders. These stakeholders include the departments of Agriculture, Health, and Trade, Industry and Competition, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, and the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.
The partnership between the municipality and RQS aims to combine international expertise with indigenous agricultural knowledge, positioning Durban as a hub for compliant, high-grade cannabis production. However, commercial cultivation and trade are subject to separate national regulatory and licensing requirements, as the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act does not establish a general framework for commercial cannabis sales or cultivation.
Cannabis is one of five priority commodities in the City's agricultural development strategy, alongside vegetables, poultry, pigs, and sheep. The municipality will continue to update residents as the pilot progresses. The initiative is expected to support economic growth and provide opportunities for local farmers.
The pilot programme's progress will be crucial in determining the future of cannabis and hemp production in the region. With the support of RQS and national stakeholders, the eThekwini Municipality aims to create a compliant and sustainable cannabis industry that benefits local farmers and the economy. Key aspects of the pilot include regulatory compliance, technical training, and genetic seed banking.
Key points
- The eThekwini Municipality's partnership with Royal Queen Seeds aims to support local farmers in cannabis and hemp production.
- The pilot programme is part of the City's Agri-Business Master Plan, which identifies cannabis as a priority agricultural commodity.
- Commercial cultivation and trade are subject to separate national regulatory and licensing requirements.
