Farmers get 3m potato plantlets

Theseus Shambare–Herald Correspondent

ZIMBABWE’S only high-tech agricultural research hub, Kutsaga, has distributed over 3 million plantlets of potato using the new tissue culture technology, which offers high-quality, disease-free planting material in line with the Government’s goal of import substitution.

The distribution is meant to ensure self-sufficiency in the national potato and horticulture micro-propagation for the Presidential Rural Horticultural Scheme.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, said this in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Davison Marapira, during the official unveiling of the new brand name and logo of Kutsaga (formerly Tobacco Research Board) on Friday.

“In terms of sweet potato plantlet production, I am aware that this project has been providing plantlets to participants of the Presidential Rural Horticultural Scheme, for establishment in their nutrition gardens,” he said.

“I know that since 2021, TRB has produced and delivered well over three million sweet potato plantlets to rural households in all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe.

“This included some 500 000 plantlets to Mbire, and 250 000 to each of Masvingo, Mashonaland East and West, Midlands, Manicaland and some 200 000 to each of Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North and the remaining 70 000 going to Matabeleland South.”

Dr Masuka said the full utilisation of new technology (tissue culture), has enabled Kutsaga to offer disease-free seedlings at a larger scale within a short space of time.

Efficient production of high-quality seed potato tubers, added Dr Masuka, was essential for improved productivity and cannot be over-emphasised as the country moves away from being solely dependent on production from the Eastern Highlands and imports.

President Mnangagwa has launched various schemes covering poultry, goats, heifers and Pfumvudza, all of which have completely transformed the country in general, and the rural areas in particular as they feed into the Rural Industrialisation drive.

Many beneficiaries of the Presidential programmes have pledged their support for President Mnangagwa saying if he continues for another five years, they not know poverty throughout their lives again.

Meanwhile, Kutsaga has also distributed 20 million free eucalyptus trees from 2013 to date as a way of reducing pressure on the cutting down of indigenous forests.

Dr Masuka praised the parastatal for evolving from its sole focus on tobacco seed research to diversified research into alternatives and alternates to tobacco.

“Seeing how the institution has already implemented programmes it was directed to take up, since answering the call to reposition itself to undertake the laid-out mandate, the name Tobacco Research Board no longer accurately reflects its broadened scope of activities, necessitating the rebranding process.

“I officially launch the brand Kutsaga with the tag line: For Productivity, For Sustainability,” he said.

Kutsaga board chairperson, Mr Stanley Mutepfa, said the institute will continue on its primary mandate but expand to its secondary mandates, which have enabled the parastatal to generate income for itself and the Government.

“The transformed TRB is better positioned to continue delivering on its primary mandate of conducting tobacco research and to its secondary mandates to deliver value to its stakeholders.

“Our transformation remains ‘work in progress’ as we are undergoing a restructuring process to improve our internal capacities, capabilities and competencies to generate the requisite efficiencies for the delivery of our new mandate,” said Mr Mutepfa.

Tobacco Research Board was reconstituted as a statutory body in 1950 with a mandate to direct, control and carry out tobacco research in Zimbabwe and subject to the approval of the Minister, such research outside the country as it may deem to be expedient.

The 73-year-old statutory agricultural research institute, through its rigorous restructuring exercise, has established a state-of-the-art laboratory under the Molecular Biology Services Division, which can produce 1 million plantlets at one go.

Kutsaga has also developed chia, stevia, industrial hemp, macadamia nuts, cut flowers, saffron crocus and soya bean, among other cash crops, which can sustain the economy equally to tobacco.

It also developed barley, cigar wrappers and shisha, which have low nicotine levels and are less harmful compared to flue-cured tobacco.