Botswana launches a new «green era» with its first cannabis cultivation trials

President of Botswana, Duma Boko, has officially confirmed that the country will launch a pilot crop of medical cannabis and industrial hemp in December 2025.

The announcement, made during the State of the Nation Address in Gaborone, marks Botswana's most concrete step to date towards a regulated national «green economy».

A legal framework to speed up the launch of the sector

Addressing Parliament, President Boko said, «Pilot cultivation will begin in December 2025, under the strict supervision of the relevant authorities, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.»

Although the complete regulatory ecosystem is still under development, legislators have already approved the cannabis law and the updated version of the law on illicit trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances, establishing the legal framework for future investments.

With this initiative, the Botswana joins a growing group of countries in southern Africa - the Lesotho, the Malawi, l’South Africa, the Zambia and the Zimbabwe - which have already paved the way for the licensed production of cannabis and hemp for medical and industrial purposes.

The pilot phase will take place at’Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (BUAN), under strict government supervision.

Partnerships to boost research and agricultural diversification

The integration of international expertise is an essential part of Botswana's strategy. The Chairman Boko pointed out that the Swedish company Hemp Innovations Europe (HIE) will support the country in its first steps towards regulated production. This collaboration follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between HIE, BUAN, the’National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) and the President's office.

«These partnerships will enable research and development in the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. The project will be implemented in stages, starting with trials at BUAN, then extending to Botswanan farmers interested in industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis,» announced Mr. Boko.

In addition to academic support, this initiative is part of a broader policy shift aimed at strengthening agricultural diversification. The government is keen to develop new value chains, strengthen scientific capabilities and encourage innovation in the agricultural and food sectors. hemp and cannabis. This includes future opportunities for local farmers once the initial research phase is completed.

Climate resilience is at the heart of Botswana's vision. With growers losing up to 5,000 tonnes of annual production to drought, pests, floods and bushfires, the government is looking for crops that can withstand harsher environmental conditions.

The hemp appears to be a strategic candidate. His low water consumption, his pest resistance and its deep root system meet the country's agricultural challenges. The integration of industrial hemp in Botswana's farming systems could help stabilize production while reducing vulnerability to climatic events.

Agriculture currently contributes just 2% to Botswana's GDP, but the government is determined to triple this figure. As part of the twelfth national development plan, the authorities have set themselves the target of increasing the sector's share to at least 6% in the medium term.