17 July 2026
President Duma Boko says Botswana is on course to realise the economic benefits of industrial hemp farming following the success of trial production.
Speaking yesterday during a tour of the Hemp Trial Project at the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI), the president said his government remains committed to fulfilling its electoral promise to introduce hemp cultivation as part of its broader economic transformation agenda.
“We made a commitment to Batswana that we would introduce hemp cultivation, and we are now moving closer to fully delivering on that promise,” Boko said.
President Boko further said the successful trials had demonstrated that industrial hemp can thrive under Botswana’s varying climatic conditions, paving the way for commercial production by citizens. He added that local producers would not only serve the domestic market but would also have the opportunity to access regional and international markets.
He noted that the initiative is intended to position industrial hemp as a major contributor to Botswana’s agricultural transformation and economic diversification drive. The project forms part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce the country’s dependence on diamonds by developing high‑value, climate‑resilient agricultural industries.
Assistant Minister of Lands and Agriculture Motsamai Motsamai said the government was ready to support citizens interested in venturing into hemp production, provided they complied with the necessary regulatory requirements.
“Once mass production begins, we expect to see more jobs being created. There is no better time than now to diversify our economy through hemp.
Heavy reliance on diamonds is a thing of the past, and we must embrace new industries that will sustain our economy,” Motsamai said.
Source: BWgovernment, NARDI BW
