Despite strict export controls, scientists like microbiologist Yoan Mboussou believe Iboga could be a transformative force. “There’s real potential to leverage Iboga for our economy , our society, and the nation,” he says.

Athimni noted that their income has significantly declined. “We’re earning half, sometimes just a third, of what we used to,” she said.

Tunisia produces approximately 10,000 tonnes of aromatic and medicinal herbs annually, according to official data. Rosemary, which accounts for over 40% of essential oil exports, is shipped primarily to France and the United States.

For two decades, Athimni’s collective has supported families in Tbainia, a village near Ain Draham. In a region with poverty levels higher than the national average, women comprise around 70% of the agricultural workforce and are often the primary earners for their households, AFP reports.

Tunisia is now in its sixth consecutive year of drought. Water reserves in the country’s 36 dams, most of which are located in the northwest, have plummeted to just 20% of capacity—a record low.

The women of Tbainia typically harvest herbs like eucalyptus, rosemary, and mastic year-round. However, reduced rainfall and drying mountain springs have diminished both the quantity and quality of their harvests.

“The mountain springs are drying up, and without snow or rain to replenish them, the herbs yield less oil,” Athimni explained.

Mongia Soudani, a 58-year-old mother of three who joined the collective five years ago, said the work is her family’s sole source of income.

“We used to gather three or four large sacks of herbs per harvest,” she said. “Now, we’re lucky to fill just one.”

Tunisia’s forests, covering 1.25 million hectares, include 10% of the northwestern region where the women work. Wildfires, exacerbated by drought and heatwaves, have further reduced the resources available to herb collectors.

Last summer, wildfires near Tbainia destroyed approximately 1,120 hectares of forest. “Parts of the mountain were consumed by flames, and other women lost everything,” Soudani recalled.

Agnes Kativhu, a 67-year-old cancer patient says the herbs have helped her recover after years of suffering.

"I am very happy that I am better now because of the herbals as compared to when I was taking tablets for cancer treatment. I have stopped taking the cancer medicine from the hospital and I now rely on the herbs that have resulted in the eradication of the cancer," she told the AFP.

However, doctors have warned that relying on herbs can delay early diagnosis and proper treatment.

Dr. Nothando Mutizira, head of oncology at Parirenyatwa Hospital, says many patients arrive at hospitals too late by which time their cancer is often at an advanced stage, making treatment harder and less effective.

Zimbabwe’s health system is overwhelmed as hospitals struggle with limited equipment and resources.

Despite legislative approval in 2020 for medical and industrial use, the legalization process has encountered setbacks, prompting questions about why Lebanon has not harnessed the economic benefits of Indian hemp. The cultivation of industrial hemp is expected to have lucrative returns for farmers in the Bekaa Valley and the national economy. A 2018 study by consulting firm McKinsey & Co. suggested that Lebanon could potentially earn one billion dollars annually through the legalization of hemp cultivation.

In an interview with GSW, Minister El Hajj Hassan emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, "I will present this file in the upcoming session and in every cabinet meeting because I consider this matter crucial and sensitive in Lebanon."

The minister cited "political obstruction" as the primary obstacle, pointing to unresolved issues due to the ongoing presidential vacuum. He called for the expedited formation of the regulatory body, relying on existing laws in the parliament that mandate its establishment.

The minister noted that forming a regulatory body poses no additional financial burden as there are currently employees in the state available to fill the vacancies. "We are losing around a billion dollars annually because we have not yet formed the regulatory body," he added, expressing hope that the regulatory body would be approved in the upcoming sessions.

The criminalization of hemp cultivation and restrictions on farmers' movement creates a situation where farmers are confined to their restricted lands, cultivating prohibited crops for the benefit of powerful cartels controlling marketing, exporting, and pricing mechanisms.

Member of the "Strong Republic" Parliamentary Bloc, MP Antoine Habshi, also addressed the issue, highlighting that "in recent years, the state has proposed alternative crops, but they haven't succeeded because farmers didn't benefit."

Habshi stressed the need for Lebanon to transition from a rentier state to a productive one, stating that "the incentive here is multi-faceted. Firstly, there's economic viability; partnering with private pharmaceutical or health companies proves five or six times more profitable than dealing with traders, making it beneficial for farmers and a genuine, legal alternative.

"The second incentive is security, as over 80% will become licensed, making it easier for the state to track and combat drug trafficking and protect citizens," he said in an interview with GSW.

He emphasized that "this law ensures an integrated economic cycle, providing a productive economy and state revenue."

In response to a question about the potential economic benefits and opportunities for Lebanon , Habshi noted "Lebanon has two competitive advantages globally: lower production costs and climate-soil synergy, ensuring competitive quality production. Using these materials for medical purposes opens Lebanon to a long-term productive sector, securing a return for a hundred years as the industry continues to develop."

Whether Indian hemp can indeed be the lifeline for Lebanon's economy remains uncertain, but the economic implications of the delayed implementation of the industrial hemp law remain a pressing concern for the nation.