Ntchisi farmers under Sopani Cooperative have faulted Cannabis Regulatory Authority (CRA) for delaying issuing them industrial hemp farming licenses despite paying deposits for the same.

The concerned farmers have lamented that the cooperative paid over K20 million while some paid about 10 to 15 million Kwacha, with the hope that they would be granted the licenses but to no avail.

Farmers also added that this happened in the year 2021 when the former parliamentarian for the area Boniface Kadzamira was the body’s board chairperson.

One of the concerned farmers, Edson Kasuzumira, has echoed the group’s sentiments, alleging that this happened in the year 2021 when the former parliamentarian for the area Boniface Kadzamira was the body’s board chairperson.

However, Kadzamira said that he cannot comment on the matter as he is no longer with CRA while the current director general for the authority Dr. Ketulo Salipira  said that farmers could have first of all engaged CRA’s office before rushing to the media.