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Edgar Vhera Agriculture Specialist Writer
STAKEHOLDERS in the tobacco industry have responded positively to Government’s push to achieve the target of 300 million kilogrammes of tobacco before the projected 2025 deadline with farmers and exporters recording a 21 and 30 percent increase in hectarage planted and export earnings respectively.
This comes as the country managed to score 99 percent of the 2025 tobacco production target by Day 119 of the 2023 marketing season when 296 million kilogrammes of the crop worth US$897 million were sold on the country’s auction and contract floors.
Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) weekly report 43 dated October 27 show that there was a 21 percent increase in total planted area from 15 868 hectares in 2022 against this year’s 19 256.
Irrigated area rose 12 percent from 15 176 to 16 962 hectares while dryland surged 232 percent from 692 to 2 294 hectares.
Farmers increased area under dryland cultivation as a precautionary measure in view of the harsh weather pattern forecast for second part of the rainfall season that spans from January to April in 2024.
Mashonaland East had the largest hectarage at 7 818 followed by Manicaland and Mashonaland West provinces at 4 246 and 4 144 correspondingly.
Mashonaland Central came last with 3 048 hectares.
The report from TIMB also shows that there was a 30 percent increase in the value of tobacco exports from US$717 117 701 to US$934 170 553.
In volume terms the tobacco exports rose 23 percent from 147 288 025 to 180 535 378 kilogrammes.
The average price slightly increased by six percent from US$4, 87 to US$5, 17 per kilogramme.
The Far East market accounts for 46 percent of the export market, followed by Africa, European Union (EU) and Middle East in that order, hinted the report.
There was a 24 percent decline in the number of growers registered as only 102 098 were listed to date for the 2023/24 season compared to 133 724 during the same period last year. Out of 102 098 registered growers, 92 percent of them are contracted growers.
The report disclosed that Mashonaland Central and West provinces had the highest number of registered growers at 74 803, marking a 73 percent rise.
Meanwhile, tobacco stakeholders have welcomed the reduction of raw water charges saying this was going to result in decreased costs of production especially for irrigated tobacco.
“That is a very much appreciated reduction, which will impact on tobacco cost of production as irrigated tobacco uses raw water for irrigation. We also encourage other stakeholders like the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to follow suit and reduce electricity charges as cost of irrigation is affected by power bills. The same reduction must be stretched to other inputs like chemicals, fertilisers and this will result in more tobacco being produced profitably,” Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) chairman Mr George Seremwe said.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) Chief Executive Officer Mr Rodney Ambrose concurred saying this was welcome if the raw water price reduction was spread to other crops apart from maize.
“We are seeking clarity on a number of areas in the statement such as the mention of only irrigated maize as being the beneficiary. What about other crops?” he queried.
Speaking during a press conference on proposed water pricing model to incentivise cereal production in the coming season, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka said the move to reduce water charges by 31 percent was meant to incentivise farmers to commit more hectarages to irrigation for the 2023/24 summer season.
Online Reporter