Technology in hemp production

Carel van Niekerk Jr of Piket Implements spoke to Petri de Beer about the recent hemp trials in which the company participated, and the potential for the crop in South Africa.

- Carel van Niekerk Jr

Diversification and crop rotation are essential for ensuring long-term sustainability among producers, with the need for crops that can integrate seamlessly into practical farming cycles.

Piket Implements recently participated in a trial exploring hemp as a potential alternative, specifically examining its suitability for fibre production within the Western Cape.

With advancements in technology and new industrial applications, hemp has experienced a resurgence and is increasingly regarded as a promising future cash crop option for producers. By adapting machinery traditionally used in the wheat industry, Piket Implements leveraged their expertise in developing equipment for field cash crops to look at the possibility of adapting current equipment for the use of hemp production.

Hemp needs about 500mm to 700mm of water per season, making it ideal for a wide range of South African regions. It is important to maintain consistent moisture, especially during germination and early vegetative growth.

Hemp requires nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in relatively high amounts, with nitrogen being the most important. Typical applications include 70kg to 120kg of nitrogen, 30kg to 50kg of phosphorus, and 70kg to 100kg of potassium per hectare.

TRIALS

In small-scale planting trials, like the one carried out by Piket Implements, weed control was managed through mechanical weeding, which required sufficient spacing to allow workers to move between the hemp rows.