Times Of Swaziland: DAGGA FARMERS STUCK WITH PILES OF ‘STOCK’

DAGGA FARMERS STUCK WITH PILES OF ‘STOCK’
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Joseph Zulu on 06/04/2020 08:41:00


PIGG’S PEAK – A dagga grower’s biggest enemy has always been law
enforcement agents until the outbreak of COVID-19.
About 90 per cent of dagga grown in the Kingdom of Eswatini is smuggled out of
the country, earning locals millions in collective income but this has changed
as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced countries worldwide to lockdown either
partially or fully. Since the partial lockdown and travel bans in other
countries, it has become impossible for local growers to sell the illicit herb
to foreigners who pay a high price for the ‘Swazi Gold’. Dagga possession,
cultivation, selling or transportation is still illegal in the country though
talks about legalisation for medicinal use are still ongoing. Since the Prime
Minister (PM), Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, announced the 20-day partial lockdown,
this made movements in and out of the country very difficult.
Buyers
Local growers entirely rely on foreign buyers, mainly entering through South
Africa (SA) where the dagga is then transported to other countries in Europe,
America as well as Australia.
The partial lockdown resulted in borders becoming strict with people entering
the country without a valid reason. Some of the buyers also preferred to use
informal crossings but accessibility there is equally strict in comparison to
before the announcement of the partial lockdown. Speaking on condition of
anonymity, growers who were reached for comment noted that the dagga was being
harvested but that there were no buyers. He said many people were harvesting and
storing it to avoid it getting damaged in the fields.
The grower said storing dagga required extra costs and that one had to be very
careful how it was stored to avoid wastage. He further said the situation also
was likely to cause the price of dagga to drop because people were desperate to
sell. “They have children at their homes and they need the money to feed their
families,” he said. Another said some buyers who had arrived before the
partial lockdown in the country were now stuck in the kingdom. He said they were
unable to leave the country due to the borders being strict so they were waiting
for the partial lockdown to be over. “We do not know how long this will last
but we are hoping it does not take longer than the 20 days,” he said.