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Livingstone Marufu
Tobacco farming tells a success story of the land reform programme as it has brought bulky revenue to the country and has helped farmers to pull themselves out of poverty.
It continues to be a source of livelihood for millions of people in the country as much of the generated revenue goes straight to the farmer’s pocket.
According to statistics from Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), of the $660 million expected to be raised from tobacco sales this year, $636 million will go to the farmers.
Therefore, only US$29 million will be deducted from total tobacco revenue.
TIMB public relations manager, Mr Ishemunyoro Moyo, said the deducted money is used to pay agricultural, tobacco and other levies.
The levies’ main purpose is to raise funds for restoration and protection of the environment and forestries which are threatened by tobacco production.
TIMB is anticipating between 160 million kilogrammes and 180 million kilogrammes of tobacco sales at an average price of $3,70/kg.
Experts forecast prices might be as high as US$4 per kilogramme, which is markedly higher than prices of between US$2 and US$3 per kg last year.
Mr Moyo said that despite the El Nino-induced drought, tobacco will not be affected much.
“This is a very difficult tobacco season which was coupled by many restrictions like poor rains and limited resources on the part of the farmers,” he said. “However, despite all that, we are expecting to get close to 180 million kilogrammes.
“Tobacco is a very sensitive crop which is always judged by quality but this year tobacco farmers may benefit from decrease in production across the world due to floods in Brazil.”
“Those who have soldiered on in these difficult conditions will certainly get a remarkable profit this year meaning their ways of living will certainly improve.”
There have been fears that the drought will affect the crop.
Nonetheless, to cope with the drought many farmers around the country bought small pumps to irrigate their crop in November so that it will catch up with the first rains hence improving their productivity levels in a way.
TIMB said a total of 57 492 growers have registered to sell for the 2015/16 season compared to 76 545 who had registered in the corresponding period last year.
Of this year’s total number of registered growers, 9 983 are new farmers.
The 2016 tobacco marketing and selling season which had been delayed is now opening on March 31 due to the late planting of the crop. Traditionally, the selling season begins in February.
Mr Moyo said tobacco auction floors will this selling and marketing season introduce a digital electronic system dubbed e-marketing.
He said auction floors will use this new digital marketing system which will see improvement in clarity, sanity and efficiency in the operations of the tobacco auction floors.
The system will speed up all the processes involved in the selling from the booking of tobacco, auctioning itself and the bidding by various buyers.
More farmers are now abandoning maize in favour of tobacco in favour as it has become a cashcow of sorts.
Some farmers argue that they have spent all their life time growing maize but have nothing to show for it.
On the other hand, with only a year or two into tobacco growing they have amassed a great deal of wealth.
Meanwhile Government is in the process of resuscitating dams and sinking boreholes across the country as a way of encouraging irrigation-pushed agriculture.
Online Reporter