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Elton Manguwo
THE partnership between the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) and Boost Africa has started paying dividends with farmers involved in the Stow Muhacha project reaping bonuses from their tobacco ventures.
In an interview, TIMB public affairs officer Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe said 103 600 kilogrammes of tobacco were sold by the 28 farmers participating in the Stow Muhacha business model project during the 2023/24 season.
On Tuesday, a handover ceremony was held where the project organisers distributed dividends and maize to the 28 participating farmers.
“The goal of this project is to upgrade smallholder tobacco farming into commercial-scale operations,” said Mrs Tsarwe.
TIMB and Boost Africa provided training, resources and support to assist 28 smallholder farmers develop their tobacco growing and curing operations.
The significant volume of 103 600 kg sold demonstrates the success of the project in boosting productivity and market access by the 28 participating farmers and the positive impact that can stem from supporting smallholder farmers.
“The handover ceremony represents a milestone in the project, as the farmers are now reaping the rewards of their efforts through increased income and access to agricultural resources,” said Mrs Tsarwe.
The programme’s centralised curing model is designed to help smallholder farmers achieve economies of scale and improve the efficiency of their tobacco curing process. By working together, the 28 farmers can leverage shared resources and infrastructure to boost productivity and profitability.
The TIMB-led Stow Muhacha initiative serves as a shining example of how public-private partnerships can unlock the untapped potential of smallholder farmers, driving inclusive growth and transformation within the tobacco industry.
“This important initiative supports the development of commercial-scale tobacco farming among smallholder producers in the region while upgrading the 28 farmers and providing them with the tools to grow their operations,” said Mrs Tsarwe.
According to the latest updates, the seedbed establishment for the next 2024/25 season is now underway, and it is being done using the float tray system.
By implementing the float tray system for the upcoming season’s seedbed, the 28 farmers in the Stow Muhacha project are using a more advanced tobacco production technology.
“This aligns with the overall goal of the project to help these smallholder farmers transition to commercial production that is more efficient that their current methods backed by sustainable tobacco production practices. The float tray system seedbed sets them up well for the next growing season,” said Mrs Tsarwe.
Preparations for the 2024/25 tobacco growing season under the Stow Muhacha centralised curing business model project are funded through a US$500 000 loan facility from the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) Bank.
Online Reporter