A major breakthrough for the Eastern Cape’s emerging hemp industry could open the door to new rural jobs, local manufacturing opportunities and a future export market after hemp fibre was successfully processed using existing South African cotton technology.
The development was showcased during a recent stakeholder engagement session in Nelson Mandela Bay, where locally produced hemp fabric and garments were displayed as proof that the province has the potential to support a full hemp value chain from farming to finished textiles.
According to Duma Maquebela, Buffalo City branch manager of the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA), the project has demonstrated that South Africa already has the infrastructure and expertise needed to process hemp locally.
For many Eastern Cape farmers, this breakthrough could not come soon enough.
Archie Madumane, a Stutterheim farmer and member of the Eastern Cape Hemp Producers’ Association, said farmers have successfully grown hemp in recent years but struggled because there was no reliable buyer for the crop.
“We planted and harvested successfully, but there was no market for what we produced,” he explained.
That may now be changing.
Raj Jagesar, founder of Ledile Textile and Fibre Processing, said the successful processing of hemp fibre proved local capabilities had been underestimated.
“We were told it could not be done using the equipment we have in South Africa, but we proved the doubters wrong,” he said.
Hemp clothing showcased in Nelson Mandela Bay
During the engagement session, garments created through the project were modelled, with designs developed by the Koloni Hub Fashion Incubator in KuGompo and manufactured by Time Clothing in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Ledile Textile and Fibre Processing hopes to position the Eastern Cape as a supplier of premium organic hemp fabric for international markets, particularly Europe.
The next phase of the project will focus on establishing clusters of small to medium-scale hemp farmers across the province, supported by infrastructure, training and access to suitable seed varieties.
Dr Sunshine Blouw from the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) said hemp offers farmers a quicker turnaround than cannabis because the crop can be harvested in around three months, before flowering begins.
He added that hemp can also be planted in both winter and summer, making it a potentially sustainable crop for many rural communities.
Calls for government support
Blouw believes government backing will be critical during the industry’s early stages.
“For the first three years, the government should support farmers fully. That is how other countries support new industries,” he said.
“If we do that, we can build confidence among farmers that there is real money to be made from this crop.”
The Hempire initiative is funded through partnerships involving the ECRDA, SEDFA, the Department of Small Business Development and commercial partners.
Support for hemp production continues to grow in the Eastern Cape due to the plant’s versatility and economic potential.
Blouw said more than 50,000 products can be produced from hemp, with textiles seen as one of the most accessible starting points for the local market.
Leave a Reply