Dibete earmarked for commercial hemp rollout
staff writer | Monday August 3, 2026 06:00
The rollout follows the completion of hemp trials at the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI), in collaboration with a private company, Hemp Innovations. Local authorities say the results of the pilot confirm the crop can be cultivated under Botswana's climatic conditions, paving the way for commercial production.
Government has identified the state-owned Dibete Farm as the first commercial production hub under Phase One of the programme, with de-bushing and land preparation already underway ahead of industrial cultivation. The site is expected to accommodate licensed producers as Botswana transitions from pilot projects to commercial farming.
The move marks a significant shift in government's industrial hemp strategy, which has progressed rapidly this year following the promulgation of the Cannabis Act and its accompanying regulations. The framework established the National Cannabis Control Authority (NCCA), which oversees licensing for cultivation, processing, transport, research, imports and exports under one of Africa's most tightly regulated industrial hemp regimes.
Under the model, prospective operators must obtain licences before being considered for land allocation at Dibete, with commercial cultivation expected to underpin downstream industries in processing, manufacturing and exports.
During a recent tour of the Hemp Trial Project at NARDI, President Duma Boko said the successful trials marked the transition from research to commercial production.
'We made a commitment to Batswana that we would introduce hemp cultivation, and we are now moving closer to fully delivering on that promise,' he said.
Boko said the trials had confirmed that industrial hemp can thrive across Botswana's varying climatic conditions, paving the way for commercial production by citizens. He added that local producers would be positioned to serve both domestic and export markets as government seeks to diversify the economy beyond diamonds.
Government has consistently positioned industrial hemp as a diversification crop rather than a recreational cannabis product. Current regulations permit industrial applications, including textiles, construction materials, food products, cooking oil and other value-added manufacturing, whilst commercial production of cannabis flowers and Cannabidiol (CBD) products remains prohibited.
Officials have also indicated that the commercial rollout is intended to support citizen participation through a regulated licensing system whilst creating new employment opportunities across the emerging hemp value chain.