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Precious Manomano
Herald reporter
Land reform has paid dividends to tobacco farmers following a resounding record tobacco crop produced this season with 85 percent of the crop produced by smallholder farmers of whom 60 percent received land under the reforms two decades ago.
Land reform, which gave a lot of farmers access to land, has been matched with the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy which ensures they use that land effectively to increase production. The strategy is a composite plan of action drawn from the agriculture recovery and livestock growth plans.
For tobacco, there was a major shift among the merchants who until land reform had not been involved in financing or even dealing with farmers until the 2 000 or so large-scale commercial growers brought their crop to the auctions.
After land reform the merchants became seriously involved, becoming contractors of tobacco growers and the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board set up by the Government blossomed as the licensing and regulating authority tasked with ensuring that contracts were fair and fulfilled, on both sides. As new growers acquired skills and expertise, and the TIMB continuously upgraded the contract system, the number of farmers involved expanded manifold and the season now ending has set new records.
Zimbabwe is moving ahead on several fronts to ensure that the land reform programme becomes a resounding success by making sure farmers have the inputs and backing to push production to new heights, far higher than what was produced before the exercise.
This season so far 294 million kg of tobacco have been delivered and sold with farmers receiving US$890 million compared to 203 million kg sold for US$621 million in the whole of last year. Contract farmers are still delivering the last bit of their crop, although almost all is now in, and while the auction floors have closed for the self-financed, there is still the final wrap up sale at the end of this month for what has yet to be sold. The final sales will be a few million kilogrammes, and could even touch the 300 million kg.
But already the crop is easily the largest in the history of Zimbabwe since tobacco growing started.
In 2020 about 122 367 tobacco farmers produced 184 million kg of tobacco on 117 537 ha.
During this year the country exported 187 994 tonnes of tobacco worth US$763 million.
In 2021, about 120 467 tobacco growers produced 211 million kg of tobacco and merchants exported 183 685 tonnes worth US$819 million.
Last year in 2022, 103 572 tobacco growers produced 213 million kg on 110 770ha and exports rose to 199 847 tonnes worth US$990.
Recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera indicated that there is need to consolidate the gains of the land reform, adding that the land reform, which gave a lot of farmers access to land, has been matched with the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy which ensures they can use that land effectively to increase production.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) public relations officer Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe described the marketing season as a success, adding that the same will likely be achieved in next season.
“Looking ahead as we prepare for the 2023-2024 season, we are expecting an increase in hectarage planted due to new players in industry and those who have been in the industry desiring to increase production. We are encouraging growers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices during the 2023-2024 production season in order to achieve good yields,”she said.
This season, TIMB was strict on ensuring all payments were made within 48hrs of sales completion.
She said efforts are being made to increase value addition and beneficiation of tobacco from the current 3percent to 30percent by 2025.
“Currently, seven cigarette manufacturers operate in Zimbabwe, with a combined production capacity of around 5 billion cigarette sticks per annum. For example, Cutrag Processors Pvt Ltd, is in the process of constructing a new manufacturing facility in Lochinvar, Harare and when it’s completed it is expected to double its processing capacity from the current 1.6 billion sticks per year. Haltrade Pvt Ltd, the manufacturer of ZARK cigarettes, is also expanding its brand portfolio by introducing tobacco one can roll on their own. We also licensed Cavendish Lloyd Tobacco to support the production of shisha and process it locally. As the regulator, we encourage more players to value add tobacco and we are here to ensure licensing and rally the needed support,” said Mrs Tsarwe.
She said plans to keep the auction system running would be to ensure farmers have access to more funds, adding that an increase in free growers will automatically increase the viability of auction tobacco sales.
TIMB has several certified trainers or farm assurers who will be employing smart farming solutions during the 2023-2024 production season to guide willing farmers to produce food and fibre crops that meet global export standards.
The intention of diversification, therefore, is not to outrightly substitute the tobacco enterprise but to complement it while sustaining and improving farmers’ livelihoods and promoting sustainability.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president, Mr Victor Mariranyika said there was favourable rainfall patterns in some of the country’s tobacco-farming regions and the 2023 marketing season was largely a success.
“The rainfall patterns contributed well to the development and growth of the tobacco crop. Next season we are looking for another favourable marketing season. Side marketing is the other issue which needs to be addressed to farmers because farmers prefer where they are highly paid. The 85 percent foreign currency retention increase is surely appreciated,” he said.
From the projections, at the beginning of the season, the crop was projected to be around 230 million kg, but now we are almost at 294 million kg, which is well appreciated.
He said this marketing season has demonstrated that smallholder farmers can upscale the economy and contribute positively, adding that they should repeat this type of farming next season.
He also said it is critical to incorporate the production costs when setting up the prices of the costs to ensure that farmers remain viable in the business.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president, Dr Shadreck Makombe also indicated that this season was a different season from the previous ones where more tobacco was grown, adding that contractors performed well this season.
“The marketing season was good because we grew more tobacco. Moreover, contractual agreements with farmers were fulfilled by the contractors. The regulatory board TIMB also played a critical role in curbing corruption. Farmers this season grow tobacco as a business and next year we are also expecting this performance from our farmers so that they surpass this year’s results,” he said.
Mrs Moud Muzondo of Goromonzi said the marketing season was good, adding that this is the season where she produced more bales . “I have earned US$6 000 from 27 bales that I obtained from 2ha. I can testify that this crop has positively changed my life and I’m sure that I will continue to benefit from this crop,” she said.
Mrs Tecla Mhlanga of Banket at Maheu farm indicated that there are high hopes of achieving a good harvest if contractors support farmers fully.
“As we start the season we appeal for the contractors to give all the necessary support so that we fully embark on the new season. We are geared for work but we want inputs on time and the payments as well,” she said.
Zimbabwe produces six percent of the world’s tobacco and getting US$1,65 billion at most. Government has also set a target of increasing production to 300 million kg per year and transforming the tobacco sector into a US$5 billion industry by 2025 and an additional US$10 billion by 2030.
The country has enough tobacco seed to cater for the next eight years, which is encouraging for a nation that wants to increase production
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