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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe has so far exported over 105 million kg of tobacco since the start of the marketing season as the country makes strides towards achieving its target of earning over US$1,6 billion, a major increase from US$900 million realised in the 2022 season.
Merchants do partial processing of tobacco before exporting the crop, and in any case exports are normally staggered over the year, which is why only a little over a third of the tobacco the merchants bought from farmers this year has so far been processed, packed and exported. The rest will be going in batches every month until the first of next season’s crop is bought from the farmers.
The tobacco exported to date has an average price of US$5,04 per kg compared to 93 million kilograms exported during the same period last year with an average price of US$4,62 per kg.
This season, 296 million kg of tobacco valued at US$896 million was sold compared to 206 million kgs valued at US$632million sold last year which is a huge milestone in the history of Zimbabwe since tobacco growing started.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera recently said concerted efforts by the Government have made it possible to surpass targets.
“Going into the new season, we implore, compel and encourage our farmers to adopt all the good and necessary agricultural practices so that they come up with good and disease-free planting material to achieve the 300 million kg target, which we had envisaged to achieve by 2025,” he said.
He said the country is going for growth in the agriculture sub space adding that this year the tobacco crop is the highest ever produced in the country, beating the previous record set in 2019. This hectarage is followed by the 2019 yield where 259 million kg of tobacco was recorded during the 2019 selling season.
“In terms of exports from our leaf we are projecting over US$1,6 billion compared to US$900 million achieved last year so we are going for growth in every aspect. My expectations are very high, but we need to go for better growth,”he said.
Zimbabwe is optimistic that this year’s tobacco exports will surpass the 199 million kg exported last year following good rains countrywide which boosted the production of the crop
In a recent interview Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) public relations officer Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe described this year’s marketing season as a success because of the crop quality produced.
She applauded the stakeholders for complying well to regulatory laws by the board to ensure a smooth running of the season.
“The season was good, the crop quality was also good and so are the prices. Farmer payments are being done on time as compared to previous seasons. Overally, there was orderly tobacco marketing and stakeholders are adhering to the board’s compliance frameworks,” she said.
The country exports tobacco to a range of countries including China, South Africa, Belgium, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates,Vietnam and Sudan.
Currently farmers are preparing to plant tobacco in fields starting on 1 September if they have irrigation but after the rains have started falling if they are dryland farmers. They are anticipating another good tobacco season and preparations are underway.
So far the seedbed area sown for this coming season is equivalent to 75 809 ha.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust vice president Mr Edward Dune said it is critical for the Government to empower small holder farmers so that they will not depend on contracting companies, being able to borrow money for inputs if they wish to be independent growers.
He also said TIMB as a regulator should also ensure that all contractors are genuine contractors who are reliable to the farmers.
“If Government continues to empower small holder farmers like in the case of Pfumvudza, then farmers are assured of getting inputs on time. Unscrupulous middlemen should totally be eliminated to ensure that farmers get what they actually deserve. Tobacco has transformed the majority of people but there is a need to ensure that processing is done in the country to ensure that our farmers get more money,”he said.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president Mr Victor Mariranyika said tobacco is the biggest foreign currency earning crop which needs a practical action approach when growing it.
”Contracting companies should provide enough inputs and on time to ensure that best results are achieved. Several small holder farmers’ lives have totally positively changed, and production costs should not rise to ensure that farmers get a profit,”he said.
Mrs Theresa Munemo of Banket said tobacco has positively transformed her life.
“Since l started growing tobacco, everything almost changed. It was difficult to send my children to school or even to feed them but now l can testify that everything is now moving smoothly. I earn large amounts of money every year. So far no challenges I am facing. Every year l grow more than 20 bales. To me tobacco has transformed my life and next year l am planning to increase the hectarage because of 85 percent foreign currency retention which was introduced by the Government. This is a motivating initiative,” she said.
Mr Tawanda Marembo of Raffingora also mentioned that all his wealth emanated from growing tobacco.
“I started growing tobacco in 2018 but l can tell you that l bought a car, tractor and l built a nice house in Chinhoyi. Tobacco pays if good agronomic practises are implemented. This crop has transformed my life and l pledge to continue growing tobacco. Other crops are paying but tobacco has proved to be the biggest paying crop,” he said.
Tobacco is exported throughout the year although the bulk of the crop is bought from contracted farmers over a few months.
Zimbabwe was generating US$1 billion annually from tobacco exports and the sector has in recent years been critical in sustaining the economy through improving the much-needed foreign currency reserves.
Considerable value is added locally to the crop before export.
China is the largest export destination, accounting for between 40 and 45 percent of total tobacco exports.
The role and potential of the sector to stir economic growth and subsequent transformation of livelihoods for Zimbabweans is massively significant.
Prior to the land reform programme, more than 95 percent of the total national flue-cured tobacco came from the large-scale farming community with around 2000 farmers providing this percentage. Land reform has meant that the number of tobacco farmers now numbers in the tens of thousands with more joining each year.
The hectarage under tobacco increased by19 percent to 131 656 ha in 2022 comparable to 110 770 ha achieved in 2021.
This is in direct response to the religious implementation of the key touch points in the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan (TVCTP) launched in 2021.
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