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Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
THE government has projected an increase in tobacco output to 222 million kilogrammes in the 2014/15 season from 216 million kilogrammes the previous season. In the 2015 national budget, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the projection was based on the hectarages put under the crop.
“With a targeted overall hectarage of 90,000 under the crop, tobacco output is projected at 222 million kgs.
In support of this planned output, the respective seed sales of about 1, 032, 869 kgs were made by the cut-off date of September 5, 2014,” said Chinamasa.
He added that the government was going to work with the tobacco industry in ensuring farmers get power. “As we increase tobacco production, it’s equally important that our farmers embrace environmentally friendly methods of curing tobacco, desisting from practices that perpetuate deforestation and environmental degradation.
“In this regard, government will be working closely with the tobacco industry to embrace access to alternative energy sources, as well as development of woodlots around tobacco producing areas,” Chinamasa said.
Tobacco Marketing Industry Board (TIMB) chief executive officer Andrew Matibiri told Business Chronicle that if the country receives good rains the target set by the government can be met.
“More than 86,000 farmers have registered for the season. However, most of them had not started planting yet due to the rains. Rain is the driving factor towards meeting the set target for this season,” he said.
Matibiri said in terms of tobacco sales, $684,87 million was realised in 2014 compared to $610,31 million achieved in 2013.
A high number of farmers are leaving other crops like maize and cotton for tobacco which they consider to have higher returns.
The tobacco sector has become one of the major sources of revenue after mining, since the adoption of the multi-currency system in 2009.
Online Reporter