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Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
ALL signs point to a record tobacco production with more than 200 000 hectares to be planted judging by the 26 percent surge in seed sales this year as compared to the same period last year.
Tobacco was affected by the El Nino drought but less severely than many other crops so tobacco farmers will be reasonably confident of producing a decent crop whatever the weather.
The record is the 296 million kg harvested last year, and the seed sales suggest this will be easily exceeded with the first ever crop of more than 300 million kg.
To achieve the potential tobacco yield of 4 500 kilogrammes per hectare, farmers are strongly urged to plant varieties suitable to their regions.
Statistics from Kutsaga Research show that farmers had bought 1 131 789 grammes of seed with potential to plant 226 357 hectares by August 21.
This is a 26 percent surge from 900 525 grammes sold at the same time last year, with capacity to do 180 105 hectares.
In addition to the seed sales, Kutsaga has established and sold seedlings to cover 254 hectares for some farmers who might not have the expertise or time to sow the seeds themselves.
Kutsaga is urging farmers to pay particular attention to their growing areas when making choices of varieties to plant.
“For fast-growing areas like Karoi, Doma, Chinhoyi and Trelawney, slow growing and slow ripening varieties like KRK71, KRK72, KRK74, KRK75 and KRK76 are recommended, while slow growing areas such as Bromley, Marondera, Rusape and Wedza North, need fast ripening varieties such as KRK26, KRK70 and KRK27.
“You can’t plant fast ripening varieties in fast growing areas as they produce very thin leaves which are difficult to cure, likewise you can’t plant slow ripening varieties in slow growing areas as they produce thin leaves and lengthen the growing period,” said Kutsaga plant breeder Mr Francis Mukoyi.
However, in medium growing areas all varieties can be grown successfully.
Varieties bred and developed by Kutsaga Research can be classified as slow growing, medium growing or fast growing. This relates to the rate at which they germinate, develop, mature and ripen.
Farmers in the Tobacco Farmers Talk social group concurred saying a lot of entrepreneurs have entered into the tobacco seedling production this year and called on these to disclose the true tobacco seed varieties they sell to prospective growers.
“A grower in a slow growing area like Macheke, will be made to purchase KRK29 for August 15 sowing instead of procuring fast ripening variety, thereby incurring loss. Such a farmer will get first reap on March 1, 2025 then the second on March 15, yet they would be made to believe that they purchased a fast-ripening variety.
“To make matters worse, the rainfall season will end around March 20 when the farmer is still on reap 2 of KRK29 in Macheke, then cold spell starts in April,” said a farmer who preferred anonymity.
The prospects of La Nina season with better rains, coupled with a 13 percent increase in average tobacco price is likely to result in the 2024-2025 season shattering both the hectarage and output records.
The largest area put under tobacco was the 146 000 hectares of 2019 and the record-breaking output was 296 million kilogrammes for 2023.
The Government crafted the tobacco value chain transformation plan in August 2021 which seeks to achieve a US$5 billion industry through localisation of tobacco funding, increased production and productivity and value addition, beneficiation and export of cigarettes.
All these were meant to contribute to growth in the gross domestic product, foreign currency generation, employment creation and raising household incomes in line with the Vision 2030 goal of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society.
Tobacco is seen as a major contributor to rising rural incomes across the central swathe of natural region two where it grows well.
The transformation plan sets a 300 million kg annual target by next year, and all signs are this will be met and exceeded.
Online Reporter