Online Reporter
Agriculture Reporter
AS forecasts point to a possible super El Niño in the 2026/27 season, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board has urged dryland tobacco growers to choose drought-tolerant varieties that can endure difficult conditions.
In a notice to farmers on its official X account, TIMB said the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) had forecast below-normal rainfall for the 2026/27 cropping season and challenged tobacco growers to select tobacco varieties best suited to these production conditions, taking into account their access to irrigation and the expected rainfall patterns in their area.
“Proven Kutsaga varieties such as KRK71 and KRK75 have demonstrated strong performance under moisture-stressed conditions due to their deep root systems. In contrast, newer climate-smart varieties like T78, T79, T80 and T81 are specifically bred for dry, high-temperature and low-rainfall environments.
“These varieties use a “drought escape” mechanism, allowing tobacco to complete crucial growth stages before severe stress occurs,” said TIMB.
TIMB said variety selection should also align with watering capacity, even for farmers with irrigation. “Choosing the right variety is critical to maintaining both yield and leaf quality. Align your crop variety with local conditions and water resources to mitigate climate risks and build lasting profitability,” continued TIMB.
Kutsaga developed climate-smart varieties in response to climate change challenges and repeated droughts. Tobacco is naturally a hardy crop, but the propensity and frequent occurrence of drought periods have necessitated the development of novel genetics capable of tolerating severe drought conditions.
“Two varieties (KRK71 and KRK75) have a remarkable capacity to rebound and give high yields and maintain leaf quality after a debilitating drought growing season compared to others. These two varieties should be the varieties of choice in drought-prone areas and also when drought is forecasted,” research has shown. In the 2023/24 season, Kutsaga further placed on limited release new climate-proofed tobacco hybrids bred for cultivation in marginal areas. These new varieties (T78, T79, T80 and T81) were bred for a generally short growth duration that allows them to mature early and escape drought, especially in situations where the crop is predicted to suffer late-season drought stress.
Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland North and South provinces and Gokwe North and South districts are some of the marginal tobacco-growing areas characterised by low rainfall, high temperatures and dry conditions.
Kutsaga plant breeder, Mr Francis Mukoyi, explained that the T-series varieties (T78-81) were on limited release.
“The seed is available; we are actually encouraging growers to utilise these varieties because they are climate-smart and have a drought escape mechanism,” he said.
Mr Mukoyi said the varieties can grow and produce good yields with short rainfall seasons and in low-rainfall locations.
Furthermore, the varieties are multi-disease resistant, fast-growing (speed to topping is six to eight weeks after planting).
“Although these varieties are fast-growing, they considerably slow down after topping, allowing accumulation of biomass, uniform ripening and maturity without putting the farmer under harvesting pressure.
“Yields of at least 2, 5 tonnes per hectare are guaranteed in marginal areas and in a severe drought year,” he said.
The genetics feature a wide variety of cured leaf styles ranging from lemon to deep orange/mahogany and allow growers to select varieties that will meet the demand of their merchants.
Tobacco production in marginal areas is booming, with Matabeleland provinces, where Naturally Cured Virginia (NCV) tobacco cultivation returned in the 2023/24 season after a 62-year hiatus, under 10 hectares from 17 farmers leading the charge.
The number of growers dramatically rose in the 2024/25 season to 122 on 84ha.
This season, 325 growers have planted 370ha, a 166 and 340 percent increase in growers and hectarage respectively, signalling growing confidence and momentum in a region traditionally considered outside Zimbabwe’s tobacco belt.
