Could the Amajuba District be the next big hemp sector?

Amajuba District Municipality (1)

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Is the Amajuba District, (comprised of NewcastleDannhauser and Utrecht), set to transform into a flourishing cannabis/hemp sector—opening up an array of opportunities for the struggling district?

Following a business engagement programme on Tuesday, 30 August 2022, at Blackrock Casino, Newcastle—Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal, in collaboration with the Amajuba District Municipality addressed a few key focal points to assist the towns under the municipality’s care, namely:

  • Help businesses to grow and stay in the community.
  • Identify and support the local business community with capacity-building opportunities.
  • Conducive business environment for service delivery to the community.
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The District Municipality further highlighted that business retention and expansion are key to engaging the business community within the Amajuba District Municipality region.

“It is imperative to keep businesses abreast with information and programmes which are beneficial to business operations within the region,” highlighted the Municipality’s Communication Unit.

Looking at enhancing the business sector and promoting growth within the region, various key speakers took centre stage to discuss initiatives to drive the business sector within the region. One of the most notable discussions stemmed from Sihlangu Ngobese, the Assistant Director for the Local Economic Development Unit of the Amajuba District Municipality.

Ngobese highlighted that the Amajuba region had a high inequality rate, especially when considering the size of the population.

“The Amajuba District’s population has just gone past the 500 700 mark; with Newcastle being the larger of the communities, with a population of 420 000. eMadlangeni (Utrecht) is the smallest, with a population of 40 000 people.”

Additionally, Ngobese pointed out that nearly half of the population within the District were living below the food poverty level, with the figure standing at an estimated 47%.

Furthermore, out of Newcastle’s 420 000 people, Ngobese said 43.3% of the community was unemployed with Utrecht and Dannhauser holding a 42% and 55% unemployment rate, respectively.

Despite the overwhelming odds faced by the three towns, Ngobese highlighted that there was some positivity, in that the Amajuba District Municipality was set to roll out numerous projects to boost the local economy and increase job opportunities.

One of the projects included hemp/cannabis production. “We have already signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with a local hemp farmer,” he pointed out.

While not elaborating too much at this point on hemp production, the initiative is one that is set to help boost the local economy, alongside other projects.

With a great deal of experience on the matter, Hemp Production Ambassador, Dr Ahmed Jamaloodeen held a quick presentation underlining the benefits of hemp production. (Dr Jamaloodeen is a permitted hemp farmer in Newcastle with 5,000 hectares of land).

Amajuba District Municipality (2)
Dr Ahmed Jamaloodeen

During his presentation on Tuesday, Dr Jamaloodeen highlighted the priorities of hemp farming being education, job creation, poverty eradication and zero waste.

“There is no wastage to the plant at all,” he said, noting that leftovers of the hemp plant could be used for cosmetics. “Hemp is a commodity and a plant that the government is backing to boost the economy due to its potential.”

With this in mind, he enthused that Newcastle and the Amajuba District as a whole were strategically placed to grow hemp, with the soil and climate ideal to produce quality crops.

Such is the potential for hemp farming in the region that, “I hope that we can use the Amajuba District as a model for other provinces and districts on hemp production,” concluded Dr Jamaloodeen. 

With the project now in the pipeline, what are your thoughts on the above-mentioned? 

Share your views in the comment section below.

Comments 1

  1. Soobiah lucky Maistry says:

    I second this view I just hope there will be disciplined structures in place to ensure that we all benefit .

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