Botswana is on track to begin commercial industrial hemp cultivation after successful trial production, President Duma Boko said on Thursday, signalling a major step in the country’s push to diversify its economy beyond diamonds.
Speaking during a tour of the Hemp Trial Project at the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Boko said the trials had confirmed that hemp can grow successfully across Botswana’s varied climatic conditions, clearing the way for citizen‑led commercial farming.
“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.
The project is part of Botswana’s broader economic transformation strategy aimed at building high‑value, climate‑resilient agricultural industries.
The trial project, launched to test hemp’s suitability for Botswana’s soils and temperatures, has been positioned as a cornerstone of future agro‑industrial development.
Boko said industrial hemp is expected to become a significant contributor to agricultural modernisation and economic diversification, reducing the country’s dependence on diamonds.
Assistant Minister of Lands and Agriculture Motsamai Motsamai said government support would be available for citizens who meet regulatory requirements, adding that mass production would create jobs and stimulate new industries.
JN/APA