Freedom Mashava, Visuals Editor 
THE Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) says it is at advanced stages of exploring export markets for cannabis and industrial hemp.
The government first announced plans to introduce industrial hemp farming in 2018 but met lukewarm interest due to steep licensing fees and other strict production conditions, which included a requirement to partner a government entity in any investment in the sector. According to the Agriculture Marketing Authority, investments in hemp production for the 2021/22 season are expected to hit US$6 million as interest in the new crop rises.
Arda chairperson Ivan Craig said the state-owned entity was already exporting different herbs and other products to Europe.
“We currently have estates that produce various herbs for export to Germany, pecan nuts and tea for the European markets. We are also exploring export markets for cannabis and hemp.
“ARDA has 21 estates where we produce sugarcane, coffee, maize, herbs, sorghum, wheat and various export crop plantations which include pecan nuts. Expansion is already in progress where we are clearing land at some of the estates for crop production and rural industrialisation.”
Craig added that Arda had mobilised support to finance rural farmers to boost capacity and intended to surpass last year’s performance in the 2021/22 summer season.
“We are already in advanced stages of securing rural financing through banking institutions, development partners and off-takers of rural produce to support their cropping operations. It is, however, key to note that the government has mobilised and funded rural farmers in the last few months through the Accelerated Irrigation Development finance model which has been targeted at climate proofing rural crop production. A case point is Bubi Lupane Irrigation Scheme in Matabeleland North.
“Rural farming will spearhead employment creation and import substitution, saving the country from brain drain and the much needed foreign currency respectively. 60 percent of the country’s industry production requires agricultural raw materials and rural farming will play a pivotal role in delivering these, subsequently driving economic growth and the attainment of an upper middle class economy by 2030,” he added
Arda recently restructured to form two main anchor departments which will focus primarily on both its estates and rural development through the agriculture and agro-industry development arm and the rural development and industrialisation arm respectively.
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