The Department of Agriculture has registered two locally-developed hemp varieties, ARC Can-01 and ARC Can-02, and is conduct demonstration trials across the country. It is also to roll-out farmer training and incubation programmes in different provinces.

Locally-developed hemp cultivars to be tested in different provinces

The Department says the new registered hemp varietals are “better adapted to traditional production areas”, which it names as KwaZulu Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.

These details were revealed in a written response by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen on 3 April 2025 to a parliamentary question on the status of the Cannabis Master Plan.

The Department has so far chosen not to publicize these far-reaching changes it has made to hemp regulations, which will see the acceptable limit for THC in hemp being raised to 2% from the current 0,2%d, and the dismantling of other barriers to entry.

In his Parliamentary response, Steenhuisen said his department was supporting primary production research for hemp with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) which had developed the local cultivars.

“Furthermore, the Department supports the multiplication of these varieties. Seed produced from these multiplication plots will be distributed to smallholder/traditional farmers (who are permit holders) in collaboration with the provincial departments of agriculture” wrote Steenhuisen.

Seed distribution and training will take place this year

He said seed distribution would take place this year (2025/26 financial year) and that “multiplication efforts will continue to ensure that adequate seed is available locally”.

The project also involves hemp demonstration trials across all provinces to determine the suitability of new varieties to the area. Steenhuisen said the Agriculture Department had also established incubation programmes for new producers in collaboration with Provincial Departments of Agriculture.

He cited by way of example the incubation programmes being implemented by the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ERCDA) at Dohne in Stutterheim and Magwa in Lusikisiki.

He said a the Department and ARC had developed a “training programme, offered during farmers’ days, for permit holders and interested smallholder/traditions farmers on Hemp (i.e permit application process and best cultivation practices).

“The training programme is currently being rolled out in different provinces’ he said.

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