admin
Fradreck Gorwe
The Tobacco Research Board (TRB) is working on developing varieties that withstand a short-term rain season citing gradual change in weather patterns.
TRB has a mandate to develop and provide elite varieties and innovative agro-based technical services and products in order to maximise economic value from sustainable tobacco production. The Board also assists growers to market their tobacco yield appropriately.
Speaking on Capitalk FM’s AgriTuesday programme, the research board’s general manager Dr Darlia Garwe noted that the board identified the need to respond to current unpredictable weather patterns by developing some drought resistant varieties.
“We have had to shift a little bit. We are now looking at developing varieties that will survive a short season and still come up with a decent yield. As we are progressing, we have four or five varieties that we are currently testing that we think will be OK in a drought set up.
“Current varieties need at least 600 millimetres of rainfall for a decent yield. We are also looking at diseases because some insects are beginning to adapt to the changing climate,” she said.
High rainfall coupled with drier conditions is the best requirement for better tobacco yields.
“The weather pattern contributes to a bumper harvest. Last year we had quite a good pattern. Tobacco likes drier patterns. It was dry around December into January 2018 and when it started raining a lot of farmers who had planted late benefited from that. Of course farmers should have the right inputs and the ability to do the right thing at the right time.”
She attributed previous tobacco deliveries of 230 kilogrammes in 2017 and the subsequent 252 kilogrammes in 2018 more to oscillating weather patterns adding that the 2019 figure is likely to be slightly low at 240 on the backdrop of unfavourable rains.
“There are a number of factors that I believe will contribute to a slightly less number this year. Most of it has to do with drought. A drought affected crop is not a heavy crop. You may have the leaf but without a heavy weight,” she said.
Five new drought resistant varieties are expected to complement existing ones that were tailor made to suit not only Zimbabwea but the whole of SADC soils as well as resisting diseases peculiar to the region.
Dr Garwe also spoke at length on the need to equip growers with appropriate knowledge and information for decent yields.
“Because the numbers are so huge, it has not been very easy to get to them all. Fortunately, there are a number of programmes that various institutions have set up and the Tobacco Research Board in particular has Tobacco Improved Productivity Sites which are specifically demonstration sites to teach growers that tobacco is a business and that they need to make money from it.
“We also have various other programmes in which we work with other companies and organisations such as TIMB. Tobacco merchants themselves often have their agronomists.
“ The Government is involved through Agritex Services,” she said.
Bongani Ndlovu