Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza in Marula
A TEAM from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is on Tuesday touring tobacco farms in Marula, Mangwe District, to have first appreciation of how production of the golden leaf has changed the lives of villagers in the region.
From an initial 17 farmers that joined a tobacco farming pioneer project in the 2023/24 season, 395 farmers are now into tobacco production.
Mr Reed Sola, a first time tobacco farmer, said he started with one hectare and has already delivered the first batch of tobacco to an auction floor in Bulawayo.
“Most farmers that have delivered their tobacco to the auction floor at ZITF (Zimbabwe International Trade Fair) averaged US$2.80 per kilogramme and I’m hoping my tobacco will also fetch that amount or even higher.
“Tobacco farming is highly rewarding and I’m happy that I am part of the farmers here in Matabeleland South Province who have ventured into producing tobacco,” said Mr Sola.
To produce tobacco on his one hectare piece of land, Mr Soda was given a loan of
US$1 000 that he will repay when his crop is delivered at the auction floor.
He expects to harvest more than 1 000 kilogrames and if his crop fetches US$2.80 that will leave him with a significant profit.
Tobacco specialist Mr Rodrick Musiyiwa said a total of 400 hectares have been put under tobacco farming in Matabeleland South Province.
“We have 395 communal farmers who planted an average of half a hectare to one hectare each. As more farmers are joining the tobacco farming project we expect to have 1 000 hectares of tobacco production next season,” said Mr Musiyiwa.
