State wins appeal against hemp farmer

The farmer won the first round earlier this year following Justice Chris Gabanagae’s decision to review and set aside the decision of Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security to withdraw the exemption granted to de Beer on October 18, 2018.

Looking back to the root of the case, on or about August 2018, de Beer who is the director of a company called Fresh Standard, approached then Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Patrick Ralotsia with a proposal to grow, produce and process products of Cannabis Sativa and Hemp dominant strains for Medical and Industrial purposes in Botswana.