admin
Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
More than 165 355 hectares have so far been put under irrigated tobacco compared to 86 782 hectares last year, as early planting is progressing well with advanced farmers determined to push up production.
Statistics from Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) indicate that over 101 017 registered growers have registered for the present season as compared to 69 980 growers registered same time last year.
From the last season’s crop, farmers have earned US$633 million from a sale of 206,08 million kg compared to 210,4 million kg of tobacco valued at US$588 million received during the same period last year.
Tobacco production has been on the increase in the past years.
Statistics with the Tobacco Research Board also indicate that as of September 2 at least 925kg of tobacco seed with the capacity to cover 184 999 hectares had been sold.
Last season, 798kg of seed capable of covering 159 664ha had been sold during the corresponding period.
The previous largest area put under tobacco was 146 000ha in 2019, while this year’s tobacco seed prices are 20 percent higher than last year’s at US$30 per hectare.
The bulk of the farmers who have an irrigated crop are contracted growers who rely on companies for inputs and technical expertise.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe confirmed that the tobacco season had started, with farmers busy planting the irrigated tobacco and highlighted that most farmers doing irrigated crop had secured their inputs.
“Farmers are busy in the fields,” he said.
“Most started on September 1, but those waiting for the rains are managing their seedbeds and nurseries, waiting for the onset of the rains to transplant.
“Normally, farmers with irrigation are contracted and they get inputs timely even though they may be expensive. The challenge is with some smallholder farmers who rely on self-funding.
“Contract growers do not have problems because they get inputs. There is a lot of activity in most tobacco growing areas as farmers are transplanting their crop. To us the season is a good one considering that meteorology department has assured us of good rainfalls.”
Tobacco Farmers’ Union Trust president, Mr Victor Mariranyika said commercial farmers were the ones busy with tobacco planting, adding that the small scale growers were waiting for rains to start planting.
“Farmers are transplanting tobacco from the seedbed to the field,” he said.
“There is a lot of activity in most tobacco areas as most farmers are transplanting their crop and there were no major challenges since most of the irrigated tobacco farmers were funded through contracts.”
Mr Mariranyika said soil testing was crucial to both commercial and small scale farmers as it enhanced productivity.
Early and complete destruction of tobacco stalks is effective in reducing carry-over of diseases and pests.
Growers are also urged to observe the planting dates, transplanting and destruction of seedbeds.
The earliest date for sowing seed is June 1, while the earliest date for transplanting is September 1, with all seedbeds expected to have been destroyed by December 31 every year.
Tobacco production has been on the increase for the past years.
Online Reporter