Boka holds fourth tobacco growers’ forum

quality.
BTF, the largest in the country, recently held a growers’ forum at Munandi Farm in Karoi, where it brought together stakeholders in the tobacco industry to interact.
It is the fourth forum, following the first one held at Chidziwo farm in Beatrice last year.
The objective of the forum was to create a platform for interaction among farmers and service providers such as banks, insurance companies, buyers, research institutions as well as Government.
The agrarian reform saw many black farmers taking up tobacco production, previously a preserve of a few white commercial growers, but many do not have adequate knowledge of growing the crop.
It has also brought negative effects on the environment, which has resulted in wanton cutting down of trees, which farmers use for curing.
These were some of the issues that were deliberated during the forum.
Those who attended the forum included officials from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union, Kutsaga Research Station and representatives from the banks and insurance firms.
Speaking at the function, which was attended by more than 1 000 farmers, BTF chief executive Ms Rudo Boka said the forum was a stepping stone towards empowering farmers with relevant knowledge to achieve higher growth levels and improved tobacco quality.
“Being intermediators between farmers and buyers, we have found it appropriate to have this forum here in Karoi so that we can discuss and share the best practices of tobacco farming,” said Ms Boka.
“We have brought all stakeholders in Government and various departments so that they will have an appreciation of your expectations.
“The major reason being to achieve higher output, but not only that, but also good quality that fetches higher prices. It is our endeavour to see tobacco farmers understand that tobacco farming is business.
“We have noticed that some of you are growing a good crop but you are compromising the quality as a result of poor curing and grading.”
Tobacco farmer Mr Wilfanos Mashingaidze said the forum was an eye-opener, and urged BTF to spread such platforms countrywide.
“We are now into an era where tobacco farming is now dominated by black farmers and it is encouraging to see we have people like the Bokas who want to see the success of farmers,” he said.
Hurungwe East legislator Mrs Sarah Mahoka, who owns Munandi Farm called upon women to consider tobacco growing, saying “gone are the days when women were marginalised in cash businesses”.
Farmers in the Karoi area welcomed the forum. “This is what former white farmers used to do. They used to have similar gatherings and share ideas. So what Boka has done is quite commendable,” said one farmer.
The TIMB expects tobacco crop size to reach 150 million kg this year, up from 131 million kg previously. At its peak, Zimbabwe produced about 210 million kg in 2000. New small-scale farmers are leading the rebound, the bulk having benefited from the land reform.
Agricultural economists believe equipping new farmers with relevant knowledge could see the country surpassing the peak level.