Stutterheim hemp producers receive hands-on training ahead of harvest

The Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA), in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the Dohne Agricultural Development Institute, hosted a Hemp Harvest Demonstration in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, in March.

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The event was aimed at equipping hemp producers with hands-on training as they near the harvest period.

ECRDA spokesperson Noba Tembu Pako told Farmer's Weekly about the importance of technical knowledge for new farmers entering the hemp industry.

“Hemp is a sunrise industry in South Africa. Most of the Eastern Cape's hemp cultivation permit holders are new to the crop and require the necessary skills to determine the optimal harvest time for various commercial markets,” said Pako.

According to Pako, the training aligned with ECRDA’s objective of promoting hemp industrialisation through skilled primary producers. “Demonstrating high technical skills in cultivation and producing quality produce is key to attracting investment in the province,” she said.