Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is urging all tobacco farmers to complete destruction of all living tobacco plants before the May 15 deadline.
The board called for the total destruction of the plants since partial or improper destruction would have a detrimental effect, such as fuelling pest infestations and depleting soil fertility.
The recommended method involves cutting the stems, burning them and then ploughing or disking the field to remove roots.
“The May 15th deadline is fast approaching and we urge all growers to take immediate action,” said TIMB spokesperson Ms Chelesani Moyo-Tsarwe.
“Cutting or slashing tobacco stalks will not suffice. This only encourages regrowth, creating ideal conditions for pests and diseases to thrive and threaten future harvests.”
The TIMB stressed the necessity of uprooting the entire tobacco plant, including the root system, to effectively prevent pest and disease proliferation and preserve soil health.
“These remaining shoots continue to draw vital nutrients from the soil, negatively impacting the productivity of your land for the next crop. Complete removal is the only way to protect your investment and ensure sustainable farming,” she said.
The Plant Pests and Diseases Act [Chapter 19:08] requires that tobacco stalks be destroyed by the 15th of May every year.
For contravention of the regulation requiring the destruction of tobacco stalks by the specified date or prohibiting the planting of tobacco plants between specified dates, there are consequences to the farmer or the contractor.
If 10 percent of the contracted farmers are non-compliant, the responsible contractor will be penalised or suspended from operations until they comply fully.
Therefore, no contractor will contract a farmer who has not destroyed their tobacco stalks.
Any grower who has not destroyed tobacco stalks and has been contracted shall be de-contracted from that contract scheme.
TIMB and Ministry of Lands officers are inspecting all fields and compiling lists of all non-compliant farmers.
Added to that, for the first offence, the farmer will pay a fine not exceeding US$100 or local currency 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, a fine not exceeding US$200 or ZWL equivalent for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed will be imposed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
