Pictured here: Botswana’s Human Settlements Minister Onneetse Ramogapi inspects hemp fibre and hempcrete bricks at the Conference.
The Botswana Hemp Impact Conference, hosted by the Institute of Energy and Technology Development (IETD), brought together farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and policymakers to explore the opportunities and challenges of hemp as a new industry for Botswana.
With the recent passing of the Cannabis (Hemp) Bill, there is momentum and optimism, but also recognition that much still needs to be done to build a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable sector.
Key outcomes from the conference included the importance of learning from global experiences to avoid mistakes that collapsed markets elsewhere; treating hemp as a rotational crop to protect soil health; safeguarding indigenous seed sovereignty; and ensuring environmental responsibility.
Participants stressed the need for
- clear licensing frameworks,
- the accelerated establishment of laboratories and standards,
- and a focus on local value-addition before exports.
Green financing, carbon credit opportunities, and models such as community-based cannabis clubs were also highlighted as ways to build a resilient industry.
For IETD, hemp is part of a wider commitment to prepare Batswana for participation in emerging industries. The institute is developing short courses to be registered with the Human Resource Development Council, with a strong focus on compliance training for law firms, regulatory awareness for entrepreneurs, technical capacity for farmers, and value-chain knowledge for cooperatives.
Going forward, IETD aims to ensure that by the next conference, the sector will not only be in discussion but will also be able to showcase skills development trails and product development outcomes.
The conference underscored the urgency of being proactive. Skill development in emerging markets like hemp will determine whether Botswana captures the full benefits of this opportunity or risks being left behind.
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