adminElita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Tobacco growers have started reaping early irrigated crop, but the sector is expected to register a decline in volumes due to poor rains and erratic power supplies that affected irrigation activities.
Most tobacco growers said the irrigated crop was in a better condition compared to the dryland crop which was affected by poor rains.
The farmers said the delayed rains forced them to reduce the hectarage of the golden leaf.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister Davis Marapira yesterday confirmed that tobacco had been adversely affected by poor rains. He said this could compromise the quality and volumes of the crop.
“The bulk of the irrigated crop is in good condition and some farmers have already started reaping and curing the crop. In some areas, farmers who had an irrigated crop complained of constant power cuts. The dryland crop was affected by poor rains that started very late and we do not expect high volumes of tobacco this season,” he said.
Besides poor rains, the decline in tobacco production has also been attributed to the low prices offered by buyers last season. Tobacco experts say some farmers have reduced the hectarage under tobacco to focus on a crop they could manage in terms of inputs and agronomic practices.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board public relations manager, Isheunesu Moyo, said TIMB and the Tobacco Research Board would carry out a national crop assessment in tobacco producing areas to determine the hectarage and estimates of volumes.
“It is too early for TIMB to give crop targets. We are going into the field to make assessments to know the real situation on the ground,” he said.
Tobacco production has been on the rise over the past decade.
The increase in tobacco volumes has been attributed to favourable prices on the market and an organised marketing system where farmers get their money on the same day as sales.
Online Reporter