Online Reporter
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is spearheading comprehensive sustainability efforts within Zimbabwe’s tobacco sub-sector, focusing on environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Through extensive training, mandatory tree planting initiatives and the monitoring of agricultural labour practices (ALP), the industry is working towards a greener and more ethical future.
Collectively, the tobacco industry, including major contracting companies and other stakeholders, contributes to the establishment of approximately 6 000 hectares (ha) of new woodlots annually.
Since 2014, these efforts have resulted in the planting of at least 23 000ha of eucalyptus trees. Between 2021 and 2024, TIMB, in partnership with the Sustainable Afforestation Association (SAA), successfully established 600ha of woodlots across Zimbabwe’s four main tobacco-growing regions.
This initiative is designed to provide sustainable fuel for tobacco curing, restore ecosystems and sequester carbon, directly addressing the negative environmental impact of tobacco production.
In addition to afforestation efforts, TIMB is actively exploring alternative curing fuels to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.
A promising partnership with Kutsaga Research Station and Gas Cure led to the commissioning of a liquefied petroleum gas/biogas curing barn in March 2024.
Early results show a 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions and lower labour requirements, with trials underway.
The broader strategy also includes improving the efficiency of tobacco curing barns to meet minimum standards set by TIMB and the Tobacco Research Board, ultimately aiming to reduce fuel consumption across the industry.
TIMB has also taken significant strides in strengthening social responsibility within the tobacco sub-sector.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Labour Practices Code developed by TIMB and adopted by the tobacco industry in June 2023 outlines seven core principles, including zero tolerance for child and forced labour, safe working conditions, fair treatment and strict legal compliance.
The code ensures that all tobacco merchants and farmers in Zimbabwe uphold ethical and sustainable practices.
It became mandatory for the 2023/2024 cropping season, and is now an integral part of compliance frameworks for merchants and auction floors.
Each year, the tobacco industry deploys around 1 000 agricultural extension officers responsible for:
Grower vetting and registration;
Training and awareness raising;
Monitoring crop production with a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
To promote industry-wide understanding of ESG best practices, TIMB also conducts annual “training of trainers” programmes, and has deployed field officers to monitor compliance among contracted and independent growers.
As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability, TIMB has developed a centralised reporting platform.
This system allows contracting companies to submit reports on the ALP compliance of their growers, with TIMB reports on independent growers providing a comprehensive industry overview.
Through these proactive measures, TIMB has demonstrated a clear commitment to fostering a more responsible and sustainable tobacco industry in Zimbabwe, balancing environmental protection with the promotion of fair labour practices.
