adminElita Chikwati Senior Reporter
THE Tobacco Research Board (TRB) has intensified training on the use of the float bed seedling production system after low uptake of the technology by farmers because of lack of knowledge.
Most tobacco farmers have been reluctant to use the new seedbed system of float trays in preference for the conventional way of producing seedlings.
Some have been avoiding extra costs as they have to procure the trays used when producing seedlings in a floatbed.
The advantages of using the float tray include a five times reduction in seedbed area, easier transplantation, use of less chemicals, lower water and fertiliser requirements and production of superior, more uniform and drought tolerant seedlings.
A Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) weekly update shows that so far, farmers have established over one million square metres of tobacco seedbeds and of this figure, only 33 000 square metres were done using the float bed system.
Last year during the same period, farmers had established 8928 187 square metres of seedbeds using the conventional way while only 72 025 square metres were done using the floatbed system.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union president, Mr Abdul Nyathi, said farmers were not willing to adopt the new system because they had been relying on the conventional method for a long time.
“Farmers compare the new system to the old system and if it does not give any tangible advantages, they stick to the old method.
“Some farmers do not mind the quality of the seedlings but they consider the costs involved and thus will go back to the traditional way of doing things,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Farmers Union vice president, Mr Edward Dune, confirmed that adoption of the float system was low as there was no motivation for farmers to switch to the new technology.
“Farmers have also been affected by the macro-economic environment. The new system requires farmers to buy the trays. Some farmers have not seen the benefits of the system and have confidence in the old way which has worked for them for the past years,” he said.
TRB general manager, Dr Dahlia Garwe said they were making efforts to educate farmers on the benefits of using the new seedbed production technology.
Their agronomists were moving around farming areas carrying out trainings.
Dr Garwe said there had been an overwhelming response from contractors and they expected the uptake of the technology to grow soon.
“There is need for more education. We are training farmers on the new concept and we can offer the float trays on credit and they will pay through the stop order facility when they sell their crop. We have a Group Inputs Loan Scheme which farmers can benefit from,” she said.
Dr Garwe said TRB had agronomists who could offer training to farmers in groups of 10 and above.
She however said the organisation was making inroads as most contractors had realised the benefits of using the system for seedling production.
“Most tobacco farmers are producing the crop under contract. Now that most contractors are realising the benefits of the float tray system, we are seeing an encouraging uptake of the technology,” she said.
She said the technology was not expensive as farmers could use the same facilities for around five years.
Online Reporter