The Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust (ZIHT) needs at least US$3 million for research and development for commercialization of the sector currently affected by a huge knowledge gap, founder and chief executive Zorodzai Maroveke has said.
Industrial hemp is a variety of cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for fiber, grain, or CBD flower. It has more than 2,500 uses including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable, plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.
Speaking at the In Conversation with Trevor Ideas Festival being held in Nyanga yesterday, Maroveke said funding was essential for the commercialization of the new industry. “We need US$3 million to do this research and development in 12 months so that we have the data and information to lay a strong foundation for the commercialization."
“Once we have the data, we have evidence, it’s proof of concept you can convince the government to incentivize the green industry. Because the government has a mandate to meet its nationally determined contributions (NDCs). We can actually use the industrial hemp project to support the government to achieve its NDCs,” she said.
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