Example of a hemp plant.
BY: NOSIPHO MKHIZE | JOURNALIST
MANZINI — The Ministry of Agriculture has endorsed industrial hemp adaptability trials covering at least four hectares, allowing Eswatini to test the crop’s agronomic performance, commercial prospects and contribution to employment and industrial development.
The endorsement, issued on July 6, 2026, authorises African Hemp Development and Management (Pty) Ltd to coordinate the research with the University of Eswatini. Trials will be conducted at the university and three additional sites representing the country’s agro-ecological conditions.
Government institutions, researchers, farmers and companies are expected to participate in the programme, which will assess whether industrial hemp can be cultivated profitably under local soil, rainfall and production conditions.
The initiative was discussed during a meeting at the American Space in Manzini on July 14 as part of the SADC Cannabis and Hemp International Study Tour. Participants examined regulation, financing, farmer participation, processing and markets.
Johan Botha of the Department of Cannabis and Hemp Development said the crop was being considered as a complement rather than a replacement for cotton.
“We are not proposing that hemp should replace cotton; we are proposing diversification so that farmers have another profitable crop,” Botha said. “Our projections suggest that industrial hemp could generate returns several times higher than cotton, but that must be tested under Eswatini’s conditions.”
He said the research must go beyond proving that the plant can grow and determine whether its fibre, oils and outputs can meet commercial standards.
“We must not stop at proving that the plant can grow,” Botha said. “We must prove that its fibre, oils and other products can meet commercial standards and secure markets, particularly within Southern Africa.”
The trials are expected to examine varieties, costs, water requirements, pest and disease pressures, fibre and seed yields, processing needs and buyers. Stakeholders also called for sites to be registered and monitored to ensure legal compliance and protect researchers and farmers.
Joseph Mkhabela, from the Department of Cannabis and Hemp Development, warned against expanding production on assumptions or experiences from other countries.
“Agriculture must be driven by data, not by anecdotes,” Mkhabela said. “Before we recommend four hectares, 40 hectares or 400 hectares, we need credible information on costs, yields, climate response, profitability and market demand.”
He said universities and research institutions should lead the scientific work, while specialists mobilise funding and support commercial planning.
“We must remain realistic and allow the research findings to determine the most suitable production model for Eswatini,” Mkhabela said. “The country needs evidence that can withstand scrutiny and give policymakers, investors and farmers confidence.”
Trevor Shongwe, Secretary-General of the Eswatini Hemp and Cannabis Association, said local farmers must be placed at the centre of the emerging value chain.
“Our priority is to ensure that emaSwati farmers are not spectators in an industry being developed on their own soil,” Shongwe said. “They must participate in the trials, acquire skills and eventually benefit from production, processing and ownership opportunities.”
He said regulation and research could create legitimate routes into the formal economy for growers while improving access to finance, training and markets.
“Research and regulation can create a pathway from informality to a legitimate industry,” Shongwe said. “That pathway must protect local farmers, open access to finance and markets, and ensure that the economic value remains visible in Eswatini.”
Participants proposed a two-day strategic planning workshop before the end of August to establish a steering structure, research committee and specialised working groups. The meeting is expected to finalise trial protocols, site registration, responsibilities, funding arrangements and coordination with regulators.
The Ministry’s endorsement applies specifically to research. Any wider cultivation and commercialisation programme will depend on the findings, further approvals and a clear regulatory framework.
Should the trials confirm agronomic suitability, viable markets and workable regulation, industrial hemp could support a value chain linking farmers to textiles, construction materials, food products, cosmetics, research and manufacturing. Stakeholders ultimately agreed that Eswatini’s hemp ambitions must be guided by evidence from local fields.
