The democratisation of tobacco growing, to include smallholder communal farmers, has paid dividends as the farmers’ lives have been transformed.
Government removed the monopoly on tobacco growing, which was formerly grown by white commercial farmers on a large-scale.
But since the agrarian reforms that started in the year 2000, more smallholder farmers have ventured into tobacco growing and the sub-sector is now contributing significantly to economic development, while also proving to be a reliable source of income for the farmers.
More jobs have also been created in the tobacco sub-sector.
A vast number of smallholder farmers have said that since they ventured into tobacco growing, they have changed their lives completely, and they believe their contributions would help in the attainment of Vision 2030 of an upper middle income society.
Many farmers have sent their children to school, constructed decent houses, while some have acquired farming machinery such as tractors and different pieces of equipment, among other achievements.
Mrs Marjorie Makwiza of Banket in Mashonaland West Province said of all the crops she grows; tobacco has positively transformed her life.
“Since I started growing tobacco, everything has changed. It was difficult to send my children to school or even feed them, but now I can testify that everything is now moving smoothly,” she said.
“I earn large amounts of money every year. So far, I am not facing any challenges. Every year I grow more than 20 bales of tobacco and the crop has transformed my life.”
Next year, she is planning to increase the hectarage because of the 85 percent foreign currency retention introduced by the Government. Mr Tawanda Marembo of Raffingora, also in Mashonaland West, said all the wealth he has, came from growing tobacco.
“I started growing tobacco in 2018 but I can tell you that I bought a car, tractor and built a nice house in Chinhoyi.
“Tobacco pays if good agronomic practices are implemented. This crop has transformed my life and l pledge to continue growing tobacco.
“Other crops are paying but tobacco has proved to be the biggest paying crop.”
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust vice president Mr Edward Dune said the Government should empower smallholder farmers so that they do not depend on contracting companies.
He also said TIMB as a regulator should also contract genuine contractors who are reliable.
“Transformation should not be theoretical. If the Government continues to empower smallholder farmers like in the case of Pfumvudza, then farmers are assured of getting inputs on time. “Unscrupulous middlemen should totally be eliminated to ensure farmers get what they actually deserve.
“Tobacco has transformed the majority of people but there is a need to ensure that processing of the crop is done in the country to ensure that our farmers get more money,” he said.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president Mr Victor Mariranyika said: “It is good for the farmers to benefit from what they grow. We are guaranteed a good harvest if farmers get their inputs on time.
“At the same time, production costs should not increase. We are sure that farmers can make more profits than they are getting at the moment.”
The organised marketing system and favourable prices have continued to attract new growers.
Zimbabwe produces 6 percent of the world’s tobacco and generates about US$1,65 billion annually.
A target of increasing production to 300 million kg per year has been set, amid plans to transform the tobacco sector into a US$5 billion industry by 2025.
The country has enough tobacco seed to cater for the next eight years, which is encouraging for a nation that wants to increase production.
The Tobacco Research Board says for the crop to achieve its optimum potential yield and quality; proper agronomic practices should be followed from seedling until the time of marketing the crop. Profitable production of tobacco depends on effective and sustainable management practices. While the TRB has tobacco varieties that may have a yield potential of up to five tonnes per hectare, the national average yield for tobacco production in Zimbabwe remains below two tonnes per hectare. – The Herald
