Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
GOVERNMENT has extended the tobacco stalks and roots destruction date from May 15 to June 5 to cater for the late-planted crop.
Some tobacco growers planted late due to the delay in the onset of the season.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka made the extension in a recent notice.
“The Ministry, in January 2025, extended field transplanting of tobacco by 10 days to January 10 due to the late start of the season, as many growers of rain-fed tobacco had not managed to transplant their seedlings by the stipulated seedling destruction date of December 31, 2024,” he said.
The minister said pursuant to the above, the ministry had changed the last date of destroying all tobacco plants in the field to June 5, 2025 in the case of plants of a type other than oriental, in terms of section 5(1) of the Plant Pests and Diseases (Tobacco Regulations, 1979).
“All growers are required to adhere to all other dates to prevent the carryover of pests and diseases,” he said.
“Those who cannot meet the stipulated deadlines were advised to apply for an extension to chief director responsible for the National Plant Protection Organisation of Zimbabwe prior to the cut-off date.
“Contraventions of the destruction regulation attract a fine not exceeding US$100 for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or both such fine and imprisonment, for first offence.
“A second or subsequent conviction will attract a fine not exceeding US$200 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 both such fine and imprisonment.”
Meanwhile, Kutsaga Research has encouraged farmers to use methods that uproot the entire plant to protect their fields.
“Cutting or slashing tobacco stalks only encourages regrowth of shoots, which become breeding grounds for pests and diseases. This regrowth also drains soil nutrients, reducing productivity for the next crop,” read an X post from Kutsaga.
The Plant Pests and Diseases (Tobacco) Regulations Statutory Instrument (SI) 711 of 1979 as amended, was created to reduce incidences of pests and diseases in tobacco crops, especially the viruses that are vectored by aphids, white flies and thrips.
These viruses may result in the production of poor-quality leaves.
