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Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has started implementing several initiatives to align its efforts with the broader national vision of establishing a robust US$60 billion tobacco industry by 2028.
This comes as the country has set a target of sustainably producing 300 million kilogramnmes of tobacco by 2025.
TIMB acting chief executive officer Mr Emmanuel Matsvaire said they were rolling out a number of initiatives to improve tobacco growers’ viability and ensure an annual yield of 300 million kilogrammes of tobacco by 2025 before eventually growing the sector into a US$60 billion industry by 2028.
“The board has partnered the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to ensure uninterrupted power supplies this season. Farmers need electricity to do many operations, which include irrigation,” he said.
They are also providing coal for tobacco curing at discounted prices to registered tobacco farmers.
Traditionally, a tonne of coal was sold at US$65 or more before value added tax (VAT). This has since dropped 31 percent to US$45 after Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka negotiated with coal suppliers like Hwange Colliery.
“The programme was introduced in the 2023/24 with 5 319 tonnes of coal being procured through the initiative. This allowed farmers to save approximately US$100 000.
“There has been an increased uptake of the product this season with some tobacco contractors bringing small-scale farmers into the programme to ensure they remain viable enough to their debts,” he added.
Mr Matsvaire observed that the initiatives reduced the cost of production, improved livelihoods and ensured a constant supply of energy needed at all production stages while reducing pressure on forests thereby allowing them to recover as the country transitions into a green economy.
All registered tobacco farmers are eligible to access the electricity and coal facilities.
In 2021, Government crafted the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan (TVCTP) aimed at transforming the tobacco value chain into a US$5 billion industry by 2025 through localisation of funding, increased production, value addition to boost foreign currency generation, employment creation and raising household incomes in pursuit of Vision 2030.
Over 11 424 hectares of irrigated tobacco had been planted as of October 16 – a three percent rise from 11 134 hectares planted during the same time last year.
“Farmers are optimistic of a good season and we anticipate a yield of around 300 million kilogrammes. Exciting times ahead for the industry,” an X (formerly twitter) post by TIMB indicated recently.
The 2024/25 tobacco planting season officially kicked off on September 1 with 1 252 244 grammes of seed sold as at September 11 compared to 865 708 sold at the same time last year. This marks a 45 percent increase.
The seed is enough to cover 208 707 hectares compared to last year’s 144 285ha.
The Crops, Horticulture, Fisheries and Livestock Summer Plan for 2024/25 season is targeting to produce 288 million kg of tobacco with 93 percent under the contract system and seven from self-financing growers.
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