Medicinal cannabis offers many opportunities in the health sector. With more people seeking natural, plant-based treatments, the medicinal cannabis industry is opening doors for growers to dive into a booming market with huge potential.
Mzansi’s ideal climate and extensive arable land make it ideal to become a key player in the global cannabis market.
In an article published by our sister publication, Food For Mzansi, Alec Yardley, horticulturalist, gives insight into cultivating medicinal cannabis.
Medicinal cannabis is grown specifically to harness its therapeutic compounds, primarily THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), explains Yardley. These compounds are widely recognised for their ability to alleviate pain, manage chronic illnesses, and address various other health conditions.
Legal compliance and quality control
Yardley emphasises the importance of compliance with South African regulations and international standards in the cultivation of medicinal cannabis. This involves obtaining the necessary licenses and approvals from relevant authorities.
“When I talk about legal, I’m talking about licensing. In order to cultivate medicinal cannabis, you need a license. That licence is regulated by SAHPRA or the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. It’s quite a stringent application because at the end of the day, you are growing medicine.”
Alec Yardley
Yardley notes that because medicinal cannabis is a high-value crop, implementing comprehensive security measures is crucial. This includes securing the facility and ensuring that only authorised personnel can access sensitive areas.
In addition to this, he highlights the necessity of adhering to good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP) to maintain the efficacy and safety of medicinal products.
Top 3 ways to cultivate cannabis
Living soil: Yardley explains that it involves enriching the soil with organic amendments. This approach allows the soil to retain nutrients and microbial content effectively.
Hydroponics: This medium offers precise control over various factors such as nutrient delivery, water, pH levels, and electrical conductivity (EC), Yardley says.
Coco peat/Coir: Yardley describes coir as a widely used medium in various agricultural operations, including tomatoes and cucumbers. It is known for its versatility and effectiveness as a growing medium.
Growth stages and pest management
According to Yardley, cannabis typically takes about six months to grow from seed to maturity in its natural environment.
A well-implemented integrated pest management (IPM) programme, including regular plant inspections and monitoring, is crucial to keeping pests and diseases under control, advises Yardley.
Aphids, thrips, and fungus gnats are some of the most common pests encountered in cannabis cultivation.
Some common diseases in addition to this are powdery mildew, botrytis, root rot, and stem rot.
How to know the plant is ready for harvest
Harvesting cannabis is all about timing, Yardley emphasises.
“You’ll start to notice that the leaves start to turn yellow because all the nutrients and energy are focused on the bud development and ripening. Eventually, it gets to a point where the plant is going into senescence, which is death basically, but for plants.”
A tool used for closely inspecting small details, a jeweller’s loupe, is often used to examine the trichomes on the bud. “Those trichomes often start out as a clear, glassy colour, but towards the end of the plant’s life cycle, they turn to more of a milky white or amber colour. That’s when you know that your plant is ready to harvest,” Yardley says.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN FOOD FOR MZANSI HERE.
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