Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
Kutsaga Research is urging tobacco farmers practising dryland cultivation to use the remaining time until September 30 to purchase seed and establish seedlings.
Growers have also been advised to prioritise drought-tolerant varieties as they prepare for the upcoming El Niño.
A five-gramme packet of tobacco seed, which produces enough seedlings to plant one hectare, costs only US$33 or its local currency equivalent.
It takes about three months to establish seedlings, and the cut-off date for the destruction of tobacco seedbeds is December 31.
Kutsaga is urging growers to ensure early pest surveillance and strict field sanitation ahead of the 2026/27 season, as forecasts point to a potentially severe El Niño-driven dry period.
The anticipated weather conditions could expose growers to both moisture stress and increased pest and disease pressure, with the country’s tobacco research and seed development board warning farmers to prepare their fields and seedbeds for the new tobacco season to minimise production risks before crops are established.
Kutsaga scientists said prolonged hot and dry conditions could favour the rapid multiplication of insect pests, while moisture-stressed plants may become more vulnerable to damage.
“The board is recommending that growers in drought-prone areas consider KRK 71, KRK 75, KRK 26R, T78, T79, T80 and T81, depending on their production circumstances.
“The climate-resilient tobacco varieties KRK 71 (released in 2016) and KRK 75 (released in 2019) have vigorous, deep-rooting systems that enable plants to access moisture deeper in the soil,” said Kutsaga.
The board produced T78, T79, T80 and T81, which have a drought-escape mechanism that enables rapid establishment and maturity before severe late-season moisture stress.
The T-series varieties were given a limited release in 2024 and have since been adopted in dryland tobacco-growing areas, including Masvingo, Lower Gweru and parts of Matabeleland.
However, Kutsaga said variety selection alone would not be sufficient to protect crops during a difficult season.
“Aphids are among the major concerns, as warm, dry conditions can accelerate their multiplication and increase the risk of transmission of viral diseases such as Potato Virus Y (PVY) and Tobacco Bushy Top Virus (TBTV),” said Kutsaga.
The research board warned that failure to destroy tobacco stalks and remove volunteer tobacco plants could worsen the situation by providing a “green bridge” through which pests and pathogens survive between seasons.
“Once viral diseases become established, there is no cure, making prevention and early monitoring essential,” warned Kutsaga.
The cotton mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) is another pest expected to require close monitoring during the season.
The pest, which has emerged as an important threat to flue-cured tobacco in Zimbabwe, can cause leaf curling, honeydew accumulation, sooty mould development and deterioration in cured leaf quality.
Kutsaga is also warning growers to monitor for false wireworms and cutworms, which can cause losses during crop establishment, particularly under dry soil conditions.
While some foliar diseases may be less favourable under dry conditions because of reduced leaf wetness, Kutsaga said Fusarium wilt, Black Shank and root-knot nematodes would remain important threats, particularly where irrigation is used.
The research institute is urging growers to use seasonal climate information to guide production decisions and to move from reacting to crop problems to anticipating and managing risks before they escalate.
