Online Reporter
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is spearheading rural economic transformation through the Stow-Muhacha Cooperative, an innovative village business unit (VBU) designed to support small-scale tobacco growers, in line with the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan; and the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy.
The above-mentioned policies ensure that smallholder growers receive the necessary resources and training to produce high-quality tobacco, while fostering economic growth, sustainability and viability of tobacco growers.
Many smallholder tobacco growers struggle with limited access to funding, modern equipment and training, leading to inefficiencies, low yields and environmental concerns such as deforestation.
TIMB bridged this gap for smallholder farmers at Stow-Muhacha in Trelawney, Mashonaland West province, empowering growers to operate at a commercial level.
Under this initiative, 28 small-scale tobacco growers have been grouped into a registered formal company and are being supported throughout the entire tobacco production value chain.
TIMB has not only provided technical training, but has also facilitated loan guarantees to help these farmers access the financial resources needed to get centre pivots for irrigation, tractors, tillage equipment, working capital and rehabilitation of coal curing systems to reduce reliance on wood fuel.
As a result, productivity has soared.
Some farmers produced as little as 800 kilogrammes (kg) per hectare in previous seasons, but with TIMB’s support, since 2022, their yields have tripled to an average of 2 400kg to 3 000kg per hectare, marking a significant milestone in rural economic empowerment.
Building on this momentum, the VBU aims for improved productivity in the 2025/2026 season, setting even higher targets.
The cooperative is now striving for vertical growth by minimising post-harvest losses and intensifying productivity so that it can attain at least 3 500kg per hectare.
The VBU has diversified by engaging in the production of winter green mealies, meant to improve the farmers’ cash flow during the tobacco off-selling season. They will also use the maize to partly meet their dietary requirements.
Plans are underway to further diversify into sorghum production in the 2025/2026 summer crop season.
At peak season, Stow-Muhacha employs over 120 people, empowering marginalised groups, including women and the youth, by providing them with opportunities to contribute to household income.
With its proven success, TIMB aims to replicate the Stow-Muhacha model across Zimbabwe, enabling more smallholder tobacco growers to turn their activities into commercial operations.
By combining technical expertise, financial support and sustainable practices, the initiative is setting a new standard for tobacco farming in Zimbabwe.
For the Stow-Muhacha farmers, the future is brighter than ever. Their success is a testament to what can be achieved when rural communities are empowered with the right tools and support.
As the initiative expands, it is set to redefine small-scale farming, proving that tobacco farming can be both profitable and sustainable in Zimbabwe’s evolving agricultural landscape.
derick.khumalo