Expo to demystify Botswana’s cannabis industry
The much anticipated Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp conference scheduled for the 30th of January 2026 is expected to demystify the emerging industry and promote its economic and health benefits.
The conference which is the brainchild of Canada-Africa Chamber of Cannabis and Hemp and Fidem Advisory will be held at Mogobe Plaza roof top under the theme “the fist mile-legalising medical cannabis and hemp in Botswana”.
Dubbed the CANNA- Trade Expo, the conference is expected to unpack various topics such as Botswana cannabis act and regulations, hemp off-take markets and value chain opportunities, among others. In an interview with Voice Money organiser John Chombah said they are trying to advocate for the medical cannabis new industry as well as to demystify the plant and showcase its benefits.
“The idea is to bring together local farmers and agro processors in the agriculture value chain and create awareness about this new industry. This will provide a platform where we can talk about this new industry which is newly legalised in Botswana,” said Chombah.
According to the fee structures for cultivation, processing, retail, imports and exports, a cultivation licence will cost P3 325 per hectare for citizens, P6 981 for joint ventures and P8 310 for non-citizens.
For a processing and manufacturing licence, citizens will be required to pay P150 000 per annum while joint ventures and non-citizens will part ways with P257 300 and P400 000 respectively.
For those interested in dealing with the plant at retail level, it will cost citizens P60 000 per outlet, joint ventures P102 000 and non-citizens P110 000.
Citizens will be paying P16 000 for export licences while joint ventures will part ways with P25 440 and P26 400 for non-citizens on annual basis.
These are the same figures which will be paid for when applying for import licences.
“It is not a cheap industry to get into; there are high capital requirements to get into this industry. We need to appreciate that the costs are high. It is not for the ordinary farmer but it is also lucrative. It is better to get together and make cooperatives and do this business like that because this is a learning curve for Botswana. It is very steep, it’s akin to the diamond industry which is open to Batswana but not everyone gets there due to high capital requirements,” said Chombah adding that he believes it’s a potential industry for financial institutions to support.
A licence to transport the product will require a Motswana to pay P13 000 per annum while joint ventures and non- citizens will part ways with P41 400 and P56 000 respectively.
A distribution license fetches P65 000 per annum for Batswana while joint ventures and non-citizens will have to pay P109 200 and P117 000 respectively.
“We believe there is a potential for banks to support this sector but you need to inform yourself about the industry in relation to the market. Banks are going to need good bankable projects with good off-take markets. The market is complicated, you don’t get in and look for customers, and you have to have off take agreements outside Botswana but for that to happen you need partnerships. So we don’t advise people to get into it if they don’t have a market because it will be a dead end. But we can also make a local market for it since there are many products. Export market is ready and big revenues come from international markets,” said Chombah.
