Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
KUTSAGA Research recently celebrated its diamond jubilee in research excellence and innovation with focus on the tobacco value chain as it spreads cultivation of the crop to agro-ecological regions four and five.
Speaking at the tobacco seed and variety field day last recently running under the theme: “Celebrating 75 years of excellence in tobacco research,” Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri said the institution should now spread the growing of the crop in other areas of the country so as to leave no farmers and no community behind.
“The tobacco value chain is currently positively impacting the life of over 120 000 smallholder farmers; however, these are predominantly in the northern and middle parts of the country,” he said.
Prof Jiri said Kutsaga should innovate to lower cost of environmental damage through alternative curing methods.
“Kutsaga’s should learn from challenges and success of the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan (TVCTP) which ends this year to spearhead the development of climate-smart drought adaptive varieties, research into eco-friendly tobacco curing fuels such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), biogas, and solar energy,” he said.
The country is recovering from the devastating effect of last year’s El Nino-induced drought which cut production from the record high of 296 million kilogrammes in the previous season.
Prof Jiri said the country is on track to achieve the TVCTP’s objective having achieved 296 million kilogrammes earlier and stakeholders advancing value addition through investments in high-value cigar production plants with one big one to be commissioned this year.
Kutsaga board chair Mr Aaron Denenga concurred saying in the next 25 years (fourth industrial revolution) they were committed to transform Kutsaga into a self-sustaining agricultural research hub, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, genetic engineering and quantum computing.
The chief executive officer of Kutsaga, Dr Frank Magama agreed saying climate change, evolving consumer preferences and ever-changing global landscape demand that his organisation remain agile, innovative and united over the next 25 years.
