Destroy tobacco stalks to stop pests, diseases – farmers told

Agriculture Reporter

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has urged growers to destroy stalks soon after reaping to prevent the carryover of pests and diseases into the next production season.

Non-compliance by farmers in removing stalks has resulted in the spread of diseases, thereby threatening the lucrative tobacco industry.

In an advisory TIMB urged farmers to comply with the regulation.

The Plant Pests and Disease Act (Chapter 19:08) makes it mandatory for farmers to destroy all living tobacco plants by May 15 deadline as failure would attract a fine.

“Growers are strongly encouraged to use methods that uproot the entire tobacco plant, including its roots. Simply cutting or slashing tobacco stalks is not recommended because it will lead to shoot regrowth.

“This regrowth can also become a breeding ground for pests and diseases while also draining valuable soil nutrients that should be preserved for the next crop,” said the board.

TIMB public affairs officer, Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe, said failure to destroy stalks within the stipulated time attracted a fine.

“For a first offence, to a fine not exceeding US$100 or ZiG equivalent for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

“For a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding US$200 or ZiG equivalent for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” she said.

Mrs Tsarwe said tobacco growers who fail to destroy tobacco stalks should be reported to Department of Research and Specialist Services (Plant Quarantine Services Institute, PQSI), AGRITEX, Tobacco Research Board (TRB) or TIMB.

Stakeholders have been meeting to come up with strategies to encourage farmers to comply with the legislation as some feel the fine is deterrent enough.

Some tobacco growers have also been accused of growing crops in the same family with tobacco on the same piece of land, which is not allowed.

Stakeholders also suggested that contractors make it compulsory for a grower to first destroy the stalks within the legislated dates before they can access funding for the next crop while others have suggested that TIMB ensures that any farmer intending to grow tobacco would have to destroy their stalks.

Grower associations are also carrying out awareness programmes to educate farmers on the dangers of failing to destroy tobacco stalks.