Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
WITH the country targeting 360 million kilogrammes of tobacco in the 2025/26 season, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has emphasised the importance of crop insurance on the backdrop of soaring weather-related risks.
This call comes in the wake of damages suffered by some tobacco growers, as a result of the recent hailstorm that was accompanied by strong winds, which pounded some parts of the country,” TIMB said.
“On November 28, this year, 130 hectares of tobacco were damaged by a hailstorm at Wilmont, Chidziva and Dahwe Farms in Mashonaland Central.
“As the rainy season progresses, unexpected weather events remain a major risk to production, TIMB therefore urges all tobacco growers to insure their crop with reliable insurers to protect their investment and ensure they receive support in the event of loss.”
TIMB also disclosed that a good-looking tobacco crop in Manicaland was damaged by a hailstorm on December 2, 2025.
Fortunately, the grower had insured the crop and is already receiving their payout for the loss, added TIMB.
Zimbabwe National Farmers union (ZNFU) president and tobacco farmer, Mrs Monica Chinamasa, was among those affected, with her 40-hectare tobacco crop getting damaged.
“Sure, hail damaged my 40-hectare irrigated crop, which I was about to start reaping and this is a loss to me, the contractor and the country at large,” she said.
“We advise all farmers to insure their tobacco against natural hazards, if they take farming as a serious business.”
A traditional A2 maize farmer from Plot 26 Imvukwe North Farm in Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central, Mr William Chibwe, who decided to try tobacco this season, learnt the hard way when his crop was damaged by hail.
“I planted three hectares under irrigation on September 20 and another three hectares under dryland,” he said.
“All my crop was destroyed by strong winds and hailstorm, with the irrigated crop coming out worse.”
Mr Chibwe’s crop was not insured and he is currently topping the damaged irrigated crop while re-ridging the dryland crop to try and salvage something.
Apart from Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces, the hailstorm damage also spread to Mashonaland East.
Another A2 farmer from Montecristo Farm in Marondera District in Mashonaland East, Mr Jaison Shuro, had 10 hectares of his crop damaged by hail, while his wife’s five hectares also suffered the same fate.
“Fortunately, for us all, the crop was insured and I informed the insurers about the tragedy and they promised to come and assess the damage.
“Many farmers around this area were also affected,” he disclosed.
Tobacco Farmers union Trust (TFUT) president, Mr Edward Dune, said risk mitigation measures have always been part of tobacco farmers’ resilience-building programmes.
“Hail damage is just one of the unfortunate calamities one may experience and we have insurance programmes in place to counter such problems,” he said.
“We normally measure efficiencies of these insurance companies by the manner in which farmers’ claims are honoured.”
Mr Dune revealed that farmers were currently busy weeding and fertilising their crop, although the major challenge remained the high costs of inputs, labour and finance.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) chairman, Mr George Seremwe, urged growers to look into the kind of contracts they have signed to see if there is insurance.
“If so, they should quickly report any damages so that insurance assessors can come to avoid disputes arising from not reporting,” he said.
“Some farmers are not well informed in terms of insurance companies with which they insured their crops in the contracting arrangement with their contractors.”
The Government’s summer plan for the 2025/26 season is targeting to increase production of tobacco from this year’s 355 million kilogrammes to 360 million kg.
At least 93 percent of the crop is expected to be produced under contract, with the balance coming from self-financing by growers.
