Botswana Secures Hemp Industry Partnership to Drive Sustainable Agriculture

Botswana Secures Hemp Industry Partnership to Drive Sustainable AAgriculture. Botswana has taken a significant step toward agricultural diversification with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Hemp Innovations Europe (HIE) AB and key national institutions. The agreement, formalized yesterday (12 September 2025) at a ceremony hosted by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), brings together HIE, the Office of the President, the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), and the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI).

The collaboration is set to advance education, research, policy advocacy, and innovation in industrial hemp and bio-based value chain development. It also aligns with Botswana’s broader strategy to attract investment, create jobs, and diversify agricultural production.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Permanent Secretary Joel Ramaphoi emphasized that the partnership reflects government’s commitment to enabling the licit cultivation and processing of industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. He highlighted their potential to generate employment and stimulate new industrial linkages.

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, Seeng Manne, echoed these sentiments, noting that a framework is being developed to guide the sector’s establishment. She described the decision to allow hemp and medicinal cannabis cultivation as “bold,” stressing that it would broaden agricultural opportunities while unlocking sustainable investment.

HIE Founder and CEO Clas Dahlin praised Botswana’s leadership for embracing hemp as a growth sector. He noted that the partnership reflects a paradigm shift in building Botswana’s economy, adding that the hemp industry holds “enormous potential” in creating value chains and diversifying exports.

For Botswana’s entrepreneurs and agribusiness players, this development opens space for innovation across farming, processing, textiles, bio-materials, and wellness products. With government backing and international expertise, hemp could become a cornerstone of the country’s sustainable agriculture future.