Farmers in Limpopo are positioning themselves at the centre of South Africa’s emerging cannabis and hemp economy, focusing on health and industrial products.

The provincial agriculture department handed over limited hemp seed stock this week to 15 permit-holding farmers as part of a pilot programme to grow the sector. Officials said the initiative targeted industrial and medicinal use rather than recreational consumption.

Producers say their work is often misunderstood, with cannabis farming still widely linked to the illegal trade. They argue the real potential lies in agroprocessing, cosmetics, wellness products and industrial applications.

Mashudu Badane, a phytomedicine therapist, agroprocessor and chairperson of the Limpopo Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Association, said the handover marked progress for regulated growers. “I’m the founder of Joanne Herbs Farm in Levubu, Limpopo. I come from a family of traditional herbalists, which sparked my early interest in herbs and natural remedies. I am also a phytomedicine therapist, trained through the University of Pretoria, although I started my career in banking,” she said.

Badane said she “traded [her] high heels for farm boots to focus fully on agriculture and, more importantly, agroprocessing.”

She added: “Although I’ve planted some cash crops and a few herbs over the years, my main interest has always been in creating value-added products. At Joanne Herbs Farm, we produce items like CBD-infused bottled water, Hempseed Scalp treatment oil, CBD infused oils, wellness products, and cosmetics, combining traditional knowledge with modern processing techniques.”

Her interest in hemp, she said, began with an early experience guided by her late grandmother. “My interest in hemp started with a personal experience at a young age, thanks to my late paternal grandmother, Vho Nyamasindi. That experience inspired me to explore hemp not just as a crop, but as a versatile ingredient for innovative products that benefit communities.”

She welcomed the provincial seed allocation. “Receiving hemp seeds from the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was an exciting milestone - not just for Joanne Herbs Farm, but for the entire hemp community in Limpopo. My vision is for all hemp permit holders to access seeds for production and, in the future, to benefit from a provisional processing unit in our province. This would make it easier for farmers to add value to their crops while creating employment, alleviating poverty, and boosting the local economy - goals that align with the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. Hemp has the potential to make a real difference in our province.”

Under South African law, adults may use and possess cannabis privately. Commercial hemp production is legal under permit, and low-THC CBD products may be sold. Recreational high-THC cannabis sales remain illegal.

Limpopo has 124 permit holders authorised to grow hemp, mainly for industrial and health-related processing. Farmers and industry representatives say a provincial processing unit is needed to retain value locally and create jobs.

Regulatory delays, limited seed availability and a lack of processing infrastructure remain key barriers. Despite this, authorities and farmers say the sector is gaining momentum, with a stronger focus on compliant, health-driven production.