Some industrial hemp farmers in Thyolo have accused the Cannabis Regulatory Authority (CRA) and an off-taker, United States Cannabis Association in Malawi (USCA) of dumping them despite the agreement to buy their hemp.
Speaking after a media tour, Kumvana Limited Company chairperson, Fatsani Chakwana, which claims to have so far invested over K40 million since 2021, alleges that the two entities are not forthcoming on the future of the farming and the market.
Chakwana says the 46-member company agreed with CRA that USCA would buy their hemp, but now, no one seems to be interested, adding that they are even lacking advisory services since the extension workers also abandoned them.
CRA Director General, Dr Ketulo Salipira says the authority is aware of several contractual concerns involving USCA which they are engaging the parties to resolve and find the way out. Meanwhile, USCA Managing Director, Paul Maulidi has asked those whose crop is ripe to notify them, adding that now they are establishing a factory to extract oil from the leaf.
