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Oliver Kazunga
Senior Business Reporter
STAKEHOLDERS in the tobacco sector are optimistic of producing 300 million kilogrammes of the crop in the 2023/2024 cropping season despite the late onset of the rains and decreased number of registered growers.
Latest figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) indicate that the number of registered growers, as at December 1, 2023, was 22 percent lower than the 144 434 recorded during the same period last year. As at December 1, 2023, the number of registered tobacco growers stood at 112 087.
In the 2023 selling season, the country achieved a record output of 296,1 million kg worth US$896 million.
The World Meteorological Organisation’s warning of El Niño conditions could severely impact farm output in Zimbabwe and some regional countries.
The weather experts have predicted that Zimbabwe and some regional countries will likely experience a drought in the 2023/2024 summer farming season.
In an interview, TIMB chairman Mr Patrick Devinish said despite the delayed onset of the summer cropping season due to late rains, stakeholders in the tobacco industry are optimistic of attaining the 300 million kg target since the crop does not require much rainfall and given good agronomic practices.
“Our early target is 285 million kilogrammes of tobacco, but don’t forget that the rains haven’t come yet and the smallholders haven’t planted yet and they are the biggest, constituting 65 percent of this crop. There is nothing to worry about yet. We could easily get 300 million kilogrammes if we get the rains anytime from now.
“As the rains come, we will be able to give more accurate figures because we will be having the hectarage and all the other things,” he said.
Of late, other parts of the country have received some rains that have seen some farmers planting various crops. This has been in defiance of advice from agricultural experts that the rains did not mark the onset of the 2023/2024 planting season. In the past couple of weeks, Zimbabwe has been enduring dry spells, reflecting signs of the predicted drought.
So far, a total of 44 933 hectares (ha)
have been put under tobacco across the country, reflecting a 16 percent decrease from 53 307ha that had been put under the crop during the same period last year.
A total of 18 875ha have so far been put under irrigation, compared to 18 365ha in the corresponding period last year.
TIMB also revealed that 26 058ha have been utilised under dry land cultivation for the 2023/2024 summer cropping season, compared to 34 942ha in the corresponding period last year.
In Zimbabwe, tobacco is grown mainly in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Manicaland and in some parts of Masvingo province.
In a separate interview, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said the tobacco crop does not require much rainfall and this effectively means the 300 million kg projection could be achieved.
“Tobacco is a crop that does not need a lot of rain per se, so the projection can be achieved given the situation. Of course, for now, it may appear 50-50 but if we happen to have the rains, which are being predicted that they may fall, I want to believe the target can be met.
“We can have very few farmers but with a good crop, they can realise a good yield. We can have many people involved in poor agronomic practices, and still get lower kilogrammes. There are quite a number of other intervening factors,” he said.
“It’s not an issue about the number of growers, though to an extent, it may be. But what’s needed is expertise, when it is put into best use, what you are going to harvest from your hectare is the determining factor. If these people are going to adhere to good agronomic practices, it means you are going to have a better yield.”
Dr Makombe said examples of good agronomic practices are weeding, and application of chemicals at the right time and in right quantities to ensure the crop is free from weeds and pests.
He said when it comes to good agronomic practices, each crop has what is required for it to be healthy.
“You apply the required fertilisers; scout each and every time to see whether there is no infestation, be it of pesticides or whatever you call it. If you ignore those things, you will definitely lose as pests will be feeding on the crops,” said Dr Makombe.
“We are encouraging contractors to support the farmers right through to the crop’s life cycle. It doesn’t make sense to just provide fertiliser but you ought to support your farmer from the beginning right up to the end.
“You (contractors) should be assisting in terms of the quality of the crop and working capital.”
The bulk of the tobacco crop grown in Zimbabwe is produced through a contract farming arrangement.
As at December 1, 2023, TIMB indicated that 94 percent of the 112 087 registered growers for the 2023/2024 farming season were under the contract farming system.
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