Harnessing traditional farming wisdom in SA's cannabis boom

The methods, skills and tricks of local communities are practical and 'green', and tie us to our roots. We've got to listen to the people who've kept this knowledge alive

- Thomas Walker.

South Africa's cannabis industry is buzzing. New tech, fancy plant science, and ideas from overseas are pouring in fast.

But here's something you might not expect: some of the best tools for growing cannabis are already here, tucked away in the knowledge of local communities. Traditional farming wisdom, skills and tricks that have been passed down through generations could make cannabis growing easier, greener, and more meaningful. Let's break it down.

Farmers in places like the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have been growing cannabis way before it was a big deal, and with no machines or lab reports. Instead, they learned from the land itself. Over time they figured out what worked, like where to plant, what to grow cannabis with, and how to keep it healthy.

The Zulu and Xhosa communities, for example, used cannabis for ceremonies and healing. They knew which leaves or buds worked best for pain or calming someone down, and science is now proving they were onto something. This isn't just old stories; it's real knowledge we can use today.

HOW DOES IT HELP CANNABIS GROWERS?

Traditional methods are all about keeping things simple and natural. Here's how they did it: