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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
Irrigated tobacco planting is in full swing in most areas while the rain fed crop will be transplanted beginning mid-October.
Both irrigated and dryland tobacco farmers are engaged in different field activities as they are transplanting seedlings to the field.
Other farmers are currently putting final touches such as discing, ridging, fertilisation and chemical dressing of plant stations, hardening of seedlings on seedbeds. Herbicides are being sprayed.
The bulk of the farmers who have an irrigated crop are contracted farmers who rely on companies for inputs and technical expertise.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president, Mr Victor Mariranyika confirmed that farmers have started transplanting tobacco from the seedbed to the field, adding that there is need to expand the production in order to surpass last season’s record harvest of almost 300 million kg.
“Farmers have enough equipment and water to ensure the success of the crop. Farmers are currently planting irrigated tobacco. Last season was a good season and we also anticipate another brighter season but I urge farmers to expand their hectares,” he said.
Recently,Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) public relations officer, Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe said registered contractors have started disbursing inputs to growers who undertake rain fed tobacco production, adding that preparations are flowing well.
Mrs Charity Munaiwa of Banket said farmers were geared to embark on the new season, adding that they were busy attending to their wheat crops, gardening and monitoring tobacco seedbeds.
“We are excited that the new season has begun, but this is a stressful period because of various duties which all need attention at the same time,” she said.
Mr Tawanda Marembo of Raffingorasaid that 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 farmers over the few months of the harvest and curing season.
In the last season farmers earned US$896 million from a total of 296 million kg of tobacco compared to 207 millions kg bought for US$633 million recorded last year. The value of the crop increases before export after the merchants do the initial processing and prepare the export orders.
The almsot 300 million kg is a huge milestone achieved in Zimbabwe and the yield is the highest and ever produced in the country, beating the 2019 crop when where 259 million kg of tobacco was sold.
The average yield this season has risen to over two tonnes per hectare from 1, 7 tonnes per hectare the previous season.
The Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan that seeks to achieve a US$5 billion tobacco industry by 2025 through localisation of tobacco funding, increased production and productivity, value addition and beneficiation has since been operationalised
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