Industrial hemp
* 41 applications were received, only six have not made it
* They are expected to address a few issues and then re-submit
By Tione Andsen, MANA
Farmer organizations, cooperatives and corporate partnerships have adequately met the requirements which earned them licences to venture into industrial hemp (cannabis) business.
Advertisement
On Friday, Cannabis Regulatory Authority (CRA) issued licences to 35 organizations following an exhaustive evaluation process as provided for in the Cannabis Regulation Act 2020.
At a press conference on Issuance of Licences and Permits held at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe, CRA Board chairperson, Boniface Kadzamira said they received 41 applications and only six have not made it.
He said those whose submissions were rejected are expected “to address a few issues and then re-submit their applications for consideration by the Board”.
Kadzamira addressing the media
He said 86 licences have been issued in the categories of cultivation and sale, processing, storage, distribution research to be used for medicinal and industrial hemp.
The Board chair added that it was pleasing to note that Malawian companies have been issued with licences from the 35 that have met the requirements.
Director General for Cannabis Regulatory Authority, Ketulo Salipira said government was encouraging interested individuals and organizations to work in groups for easy implementation of their business ventures.
Cannabis product
“We are requesting applicants to provide business plans, where they want to do their business and possible markets for their products.”
Salipira added that the organizations would be required to obtain Police clearance for them to grow legal cannabis.
Meanwhile, Kadzamira said stakeholders in the cannabis industry will be allowed to grow two varieties of the medicinal and industrial hemp that have been approved to be grown legally by licensed organizations.
“Growing of local hemp remains illegal by the law and anyone found cultivate will face the arm of the law. Even organizations that have been given licences to grow medicinal and industrial are not allowed to do so,” he stressed.
The licensed organizations have paid a 12-month fee of K7.5 million with a non refundable application deposit of K850,000 and they would be allowed to renew the licences depending on their performance.
Coronavirus alert
Kadzamira said the expectations are that the licensed organizations would start business now since they are already late and are free to use irrigation or rain-fed in order to produce their products.
He added that currently the country has imported adequate seeds for the two varieties and the expectation was that the country should start producing its own seed varieties of the hemp.
The CRA has received a funding of K100 million from Ministry of Finance for its operational and they are now ready to do mobilization tours to various communities.
CRA planning officer, Kondwani Makoko said although there was outcries that the fees were too high to growers but working in a group of 50 to 100 people have proved to be most effective.
Coronavirus alert
He said cannabis cultivation encourages stakeholders to work as cooperatives and groups in order to minimize the challenges they face in conducting their every daily business.
The licensed organizations are Medigrow, Malawi Mangoes, Africa Gold Ltd, Ortusol Ltd, SADM, Tilimenawo Cannabis Club, Unity Cooperative, Banana 2017, Hempharmaceuticals, ARET, Cannasun Ltd, SABA Agro Ltd, Sikelela Commodities Ltd.
Others are Lesta International, Profix eco-Industries Ltd, Bio Sil Technology Africa Limited, B&M Landscaping & General, Greenway, Med-Can Ltd, Organic Cannabis Farmers Cooperative, AKA, Kuwala Agriculture Ltd, Prime Pharmaceuticals, M’mbwelwa Investment Limited.
Also includes Pharmanova, Dynamic Traders, Capital Food Ltd, Bio-lab Agencies, Milanzi Holdings, Pollen Farm Limited, Women in Vision, Mg Labs Limited, College of Medicine and Rasmusking Company Limited.
Coronavirus alert