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FEATURE

management intensity and financial
outlay. Production design needs to be a
product of available resources. The main
message to get across is that there is not
a one size fits all solution to cannabis, as
with any agricultural crop. Take the time
to find out what options will work best for
your specific needs. Each solution should
be tailor made in order to maximise
efficiency and minimise inputs.

SA Horticultural Supplies: Spacing
depends on the growing technique
chosen. The theory is to have as many
heads as possible exposed to light and
swelling, with trichomes to generate
maximum yield per metre square. If the
cultivator knows how to top and train
plants correctly, it will result in maximum
splits and buds in final flower plants. Lolly-
popping at the correct stage of flower will
increase bud size and swell.
Acknowledgements
CannaConsulting +27 60 504 3143
Maximising floor space by using movable that all sheeting is inherently deficient Haygrove Tunnels South Africa
grow tables can result in 80% total since it inhibits PAR (photosynthetic active 021 859 1026
floor space being used, as compared to radiation) pass-through. SA Horticultural Supplies 082 650 6704
traditional spacing at 65% total floor space Leigh Coulter, Greenhouse Product News,
being used. Haygrove Tunnels: The sheeting is www.gpnmag.com
dependent on climate. One needs to look
Q: Is there a big financial outlay, at what one is trying to achieve and choose Photos courtesy of CannaConsulting LSA
compared to other horticultural the best covering in order to minimise
products? additional inputs.
Canna Consulting: Even with a single cycle
production approach that doesn’t require SA Horticultural Supplies: Greenhouse
expensive lights and blackout screens, sheeting depends on the requirements
cannabis is more expensive. However and funds available. The most affordable In his 2020 State of the Nation address,
this is largely due to the compliance and widely used is agricultural clear President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “This
requirements. Cannabis licenses are, in plastic. It has a three year life span but is year we will open up and regulate the
effect, pharmaceutical production licenses only 200 micro in thickness. Polycop plastic commercial use of hemp products,
and the pharmaceutical industry has sheeting is more expensive and offers a providing opportunities for small-scale
rigid standards that have to be adhered better insulation barrier from temperature farmers, as well as formulating a policy
to in terms of security, GMP compliant extremes. It is also more hail resistant. on the use of cannabis products for
structures, workflow and quality control. Glass is too expensive and is not practical medicinal purposes, to build this industry
All these elements add considerably to the locally for use as a greenhouse cover. in line with global trends.”
cost of cannabis production. Despite this
though, cannabis remains very attractive Q: For best results, does cannabis Fin 24 and News 24, on 9 January and 2
because of the high returns. need to be planted in a specific February 2020, reported that the Finance
way in a greenhouse, i.e rows Minister, Tito Mboweni, is considering
Haygrove Tunnels: Financial outlay for far apart or close together, small the prospect of billions which, according
medical grade cannabis is high. However, groups etc? to him, could come from a fully legalised
be cautious of over-investing in overly CannaConsulting: This really depends on cannabis industry. He extolled the
complicated systems. the cultivation strategy that is adopted. potential that legalised cannabis could
It requires experience on the part of the have for the South African economy
SA Horticultural Supplies: It is a big cultivator to determine optimum planting and the South African Revenue Service’s
financial outlay, averaging at R10,000 densities according to the light cycle collections. Mboweni said there were
per meter square, which will break even strategy he/she intends to use, as well as a number of sites around the country,
in 18 months if set up and run correctly. the training strategy (if any) which will particularly in Limpopo Province, which
Traditional hydroponic farms break even determine the ultimate size of the plants. he argued could give billions in tax
within three to four years. The goal is to get optimum yield per money to SARS, if the industry could be
square metre. legalised.
Q: Is a specific type of sheeting
required to grow cannabis? Haygrove Tunnels: High density plantings
CannaConsulting: No special sheeting is will offer the greatest rewards. However,
required but it should be borne in mind the higher the density, the higher the

Landscape SA • Issue 93 2020 15