But this once valuable illicit cash-crop now yields barely enough for farmers to buy basic groceries to get their family through the month.
The decriminalisation of cannabis means it is now very difficult for small-scale farmers to compete with more sophisticated operations.
For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page.
The police could never shut down the trade of dagga from Mpondoland.
But the gradual decriminalisation of cannabis, ironically, has posed a bigger existential threat to these small farmers than law enforcement did. While anti-cannabis laws were enforced, there was a ready market for dagga grown in remote Eastern Cape villages. But with the flourishing of the often illicit, but largely unpoliced, cannabis trade in cities in recent years, it has become extremely difficult for these farmers to compete with much more sophisticated operations on quality or price.
Subscribe our newsletter to stay updated
Thank you for subscribing!
Subscribe our newsletter to stay updated
Thank you for subscribing!