daniel chigunwe
Tariro Stacey Gatsi
NO one will begrudge shisha tobacco farmers for being excited after one of them notched a record price of US$5,70 per kilogramme on the first day of the 2024 shisha marketing season last Friday.
Shisha marketing debuted on the Tobacco Sales Floor (TSF) last year after a three-year trial period with the crop fetching the highest price of US$5,40 per kg.
The only registered shisha contracting company, Cavendish Llyod’s chief executive officer Mr Tinashe Mukadzambo yesterday observed that there had been an increase in the number of farmers and tobacco volumes compared to Mr Mukadzambo said: “We have managed to surpass last year’s price.
“We work closely with farmers offering guidance on best practices, facilitating access to resources and ensuring compliance with quality standards.
“This collaboration has created an enabling environment and instilled confidence in farmers,” he added.
He was, however, quick to point out that despite the liquidity challenges that characterised the economy, they had soldiered on to achieve this feat.
The crop leaf is of good quality and farmers are reaping the rewards of their labour this season, he added.
Kutsaga chief executive officer Dr Frank Magama said his institution supplied high quality seed to ensure Zimbabwe’s shisha tobacco is of top quality.
“We are working with Cavendish exchanging notes on best practices to maintain the crop top quality,” added Dr Magama.
Shisha is also a flue-cured tobacco, not from the Kutsaga-released seed varieties, but imported.
It has its own characteristics and is produced under different agronomic practices from the usual flue-cured tobacco that is designed to influence nicotine and sugar levels.
A farmer from Wello Estate, Plot 36 in Mutorashanga, Mr Godfrey Maramba, said he took the bold step of venturing into shisha cultivation and grew seven hectares.
“The prices being offered for shisha bales are promising and I believe it’s a lucrative venture to pursue,” he added.
Another farmer from Rusape, Mr Alwin Ndoro added that despite relying on natural rains, he had managed to make informed decisions through working closely with agronomists.
“I was doing dry land farming and managed to do five hectares of the crop,” said Mr Ndoro.
While concurring, Cavendish chief agronomist Mr Brian Marange said shisha is cultivated in almost the same way as the traditional Virginia tobacco, with minor differences in agronomy.
He hinted that shisha used staggered low amounts of fertiliser and is not topped (apical bud removal) to minimise nicotine amounts in the leaf.
It has a very low nicotine content (below one percent) and high sugar levels (25 percent).
Unlike flue-cure tobacco that has a plant population of 15 000 per hectare, shisha has double the figure to ensure the plants compete for nutrients, hence reducing the nicotine levels.
“It is cured using the same flue-curing barns, temperature and humidity regimes with the Virginia flue-cured tobacco and it takes four to five days to complete curing,” said Mr Marange.
Chemical applications for pest and insect control and growth period are just the same as other tobacco cultivars such as Virginia tobacco.
It is reaped when the leaves have completely lost all the nitrogen and have fully ripened.
Online Reporter
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