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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
The tobacco final mop up sale ended yesterday, with farmers earning US$896 million from a total of 296 million kg of tobacco compared to 207 million kg valued at US$633 million recorded during the same period last year.
This is a huge milestone achieved in Zimbabwe and the yield is the highest ever produced in the country.
This is followed by the 2019 yield where 259 million kg of tobacco was recorded during the 2019 selling season.
Tobacco farmers have intensified land preparations and are ready to plant the irrigated crop tomorrow while the rain fed crop would be transplanted beginning mid-October.
Both irrigated and dryland tobacco farmers are engaged in different field activities as they move towards transplanting seedlings from the seedbeds to the field.
Currently, farmers are putting final touches such as discing, ridging, fertilisation and chemical dressing of plant stations, hardening of seedlings on seedbeds, pre- and post weed herbicides are also being sprayed.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) public relations officer, Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe described this year’s marketing season as a success because of the crop quality produced.
She said registered contractors are also now disbursing inputs to growers who undertake rain fed tobacco production, adding that preparations are flowing well.
“The 2023/24 tobacco season preparations for the upcoming season are progressing well. The 1st of September marks the earliest date for planting of irrigated tobacco. Seedbed management is at its peak with irrigated seedbed fully hardened and ready for transplanting. Currently, growers are discing and preparing ridges,” she said.
The irrigation tobacco transplanting is set to begin on September 1 while the rain fed crop would be transplanted beginning mid-October.
Tobacco Farmers’ Union Trust president, Mr Victor Mariranyika, said all was in place in preparation to start planting the irrigated tobacco tomorrow, adding that farmers needed to expand the production in order to surpass last season’s output.
“Preparations to plant irrigation tobacco are now at an advanced stage and farmers have enough equipment and water to ensure the success of the crop,” he said. “Farmers are currently hardening the seedlings in preparation to plant next month.
“Last season was a good season and we also anticipate another brighter season but I urge farmers to expand their hectares.”
Mrs Charity Munaiwa of Banket said farmers were geared to embark on the new season, adding that they were busy attending to various issues such as wheat, gardening and monitoring tobacco seedbeds.
“We are excited that the new season has begun, but this is the stressful period because of various duties which all need attention at the same time,” she said.
Mr Tawanda Marembo of Raffingora said all his wealth emanated from growing tobacco.
“I started growing tobacco in 2018 but I can tell you that I bought a car, tractor and I built a nice house in Chinhoyi. Tobacco pays if good agronomic practises are implemented. This crop has transformed my life and I pledge to continue growing tobacco. Other crops are paying but tobacco has proved to be the biggest paying crop,” he said.
Tobacco is exported throughout the year although the bulk of the crop is bought from contracted farmers.
Zimbabwe is generating US$1 billion annually from tobacco exports and the sector has in recent years been critical in sustaining the economy through improving the much-needed foreign currency reserves.
Online Reporter