Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Government has reviewed the tobacco seedlings’ destruction date for the 2023/24 season to 15 January next year, due to the late commencement of the 2023/24 season.
The last day of destroying all seedbeds for this season was supposed to be 31 December.
In a statement, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, said the variation to the tobacco seedlings destruction date was made in line with the Plant Pest and Diseases (Tobacco) Regulations, 1979: Statutory Instrument 711/1979.
“As all tobacco growers are aware, the last day of destroying all seedbeds for this season is December 31, 2023. However, due to the late commencement of the season, many growers of rain-fed tobacco will not be able to transplant their seedlings by the seedling destruction deadline of December 31, 2023,” he said.
“Pursuant to the above, I have, in terms of Section 5(1) of the Plant Pests and Diseases (Tobacco) Regulations, 1979, made the following variation to the tobacco seedlings destruction date for 2023/24 season only. The last date of destroying all tobacco plants in seedbeds shall be January 15, 2024, in the case of plants of a type other than oriental.”
He said all tobacco growers were required to adhere to all other legislated dates to prevent the carryover of diseases and pests.
Dr Masuka said as growers are aware, the contravention of regulations requiring the destruction of tobacco plants by a specified date or prohibiting the planting of tobacco plants between specified dates, a grower will be subjected to penalties.
“For a first offence, to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars 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 two hundred dollars 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,” he added.
Bongani Ndlovu