Industrial Hemp is from the plant species Cannabis Sativa and has been used worldwide to produce various industrial and consumer products, such as shoes, clothing, cement products and many more. The confusion between industrial hemp and cannabis is based on the visual similarities of the plants. However, hemp does not have any THC, the psychoactive ingredient that gets you high. Hemp is farmed for either fibre production or oil production.
In October 2021, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, declared hemp as an agricultural crop. Following a successful and relatively low-cost permit application, any person in South Africa can now cultivate hemp with a THC value of a maximum of 0,2%. Unfortunately, one restrictive clause remains – the requirement to erect a 2 m high fence around one’s hemp plantation. This will be a large barrier to entry for community and small-scale farmers, and hopefully, the minister will remove this barrier soon.
Hemp has 50 000 different uses, but we expect a few core uses to create a great economic opportunity for those willing to venture into the proverbial hemp field. Financial benefits can, firstly, be achieved from those that plant and grow hemp. It is estimated that 1 ha of hemp can give employment to three people and conservatively produce 5 tons of hemp straw that can sell for approximately R230 000. The hemp has a 120 grow period from plant to harvest and is planted around October of the year and harvested around February of the following year.
The hemp straw is then processed into hemp fibre, hemp hurd and hemp microfibre and seeds. Textile manufacturers can use hemp fibre to make hemp cloth and rolls of hemp textile. The cloth can be used to make items such as clothing, shoes, linen and so on. Hemp fibre can also be used in the construction industry, vehicle manufacturing, and others to make reinforced fibre products. The hemp hurd is also used in the construction industry to make hempcrete similar to brick but has very high thermal and strength properties. It is also used in the paper industry to make paper, pet bedding and cat litter. Microfibre is used in the medical industry for CBD-based extracts and in the health and beauty industry.
Hemp Solutions is planning to establish a hemp processing plant in Paarl and is looking for contract cultivators of between 10 ha to 50 ha each. Farmers will have to apply for licences at the Department of Agriculture. The first-year requirement (planting latest this October is a total of 200 ha of hemp straw with the demand to exponentially grow rapidly over the next four years. Being an agricultural crop creates an economic growth opportunity for hemp. Contact: johan.jacobs@hempsolutions.co.za.
