The first South African hemp seeds developed by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) have been planted in a pilot project in Limpopo.
This is due largely to the efforts of Mashudu Jennifer Badane, chairperson of the Limpopo Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Association (LHCFA), who has put together a formidable network of government officials, universities, cannabis farmers to create a hemp economy in South Africa’s northernmost province.
LHCFA chair and founder of Joanne Herbs Farm in Levubu, Badane, has developed a formidable reputation for getting things done. She’s successfully put Limpopo on the map in terms of cannabis development through strategic networking and her organizational abilities. The LHCFA has rallied existing permit holders and inspired more farmers to participate, has established a working relationship with the provincial government and academic institutions.
Hemp can be a catalyst for rural transformation
Badane says she’s worked closely with the Limpopo Agriculture Department’s MEC, Nakedi Kekana and provincial cannabis co-ordinator, Dr Rudzani Mathobo, who both see hemp as a catalyst crop for rural transformation rather than medical cannabis.
“MEC Kekana has consistently emphasised hemp’s simpler regulatory pathway and clearer industrial markets, she is also results-driven and her leadership has inspired momentum across the province” says Badane. The LHCFA supports this vision”.
“2025 has been a year year defined by action: says Badane, who’s mantra is that real change starts from the ground up.
Badane says that with Kekana’s backing, a groundbreaking cannabis summit was held in June this year organised in collaboration with the University of Venda, the Department of Agriculture, and the Vhembe Municipality. The summit underscored growing collaboration between the Universities of Venda and Limpopo, ARC, and the CSIR, with acknowledgement of the association’s role and a shared commitment to providing technical and research support for farmers.
District Assocations are the anchor for development
FA launched its Capricorn District on the 14 November 2025 which Badede says “marked the beginning of structured efforts to build district-level associations, recognising that real transformation happens at grassroots level.” It was well-attended by the Department of Agriculture and other government officials, SAPS, community organizations and farmers.
Then, just in the last few weeks:
· On 5 December 2025, Kekana personally handed over the first South African ARC hemp seeds to 15 pilot farmers for them to test performance, generate production data, and build a case for a broader rollout;
· On 8 December 2025, LDARD, in collaboration with LHCFA, hosted a hemp planting demonstration at Mashudu’s farm, Joanne Herbs Farm in Levubu, marking the first planting of the ARC Can 1 hemp variety in the province. Led by Dr Mathobo, cannabis coordinator at LDARD, the demonstration showcased practical cultivation techniques and highlighted hemp’s potential for agro-processing, value addition, and community development.
Badede has a structural plan for Limpopo’s hemp industry which she is enthusiastically pursuing. She told Cannabiz Africa that provisional strategies are ineffective unless they translate into action in communities, villages, and on actual farms.
“District associations act as anchors, ensuring coordination, farmer support, and data collection, bridging the gap between provincial vision and local reality” she says.
Building from the grassroots up
She also emphasises that the LHCFA is committed to a community development model for hemp farming.
“This is not a top-down command-and-control approach but a collaborative, participatory development model, where every district contributes to the Limpopo industrial hemp and cannabis value chain, building ownership from the ground up.”
Limpopo’s commitment to the sector was highlighted earlier this year in the Agriculture MEC’s budget speech where he emphasised the Limpopo’s intention to position itself as a competitive player in the rapidly growing hemp and cannabis market as regulations continued to evolve.
Badane says in 2026 the LHCFA will continue to advocate for broader access to seeds and, in the future, the establishment of provisional processing units, enabling farmers to add value locally. She says these initiatives align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030 which promote employment, poverty alleviation, and sustainable economic growth.
With these steps, Limpopo is steadily positioning itself as a leading province in South Africa’s emerging industrial hemp and cannabis sector, combining traditional knowledge, modern agro-processing, and community empowerment.
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