Moffat Mungazi
Moffat Mungazi
Agriculture Reporter
TOBACCO Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is implementing diverse strategies to improve viability and enhance livelihoods of tobacco farmers by assisting them to produce high quality crops that meet foreign markets standards.
The golden leaf regulator is also on a drive to get tobacco farmers certified to ensure market compliance standards.
The processes, said TIMB, involve rigorous audits with farms evaluated on factors like crop management, wise water water use and pest control.
TIMB public affairs officer Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe said the certification process was bearing fruit for both farmers and consumers.
“TIMB is implementing diverse strategies to improve the viability and welfare of tobacco farmers. The strategies include consultancy services on Global Good Agricultural Practices (GLOBAL G.A.P), GRASP, QMS and Internal Auditing among other market compliance standards. As consumers become increasingly aware of the importance of food safety and sustainability, local farmers have come to a realisation that getting certified can have numerous benefits for their businesses and the environment. Food safety certifications such as GLOBAL G.A.P or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) demonstrate a farm’s commitment to producing safe and high-quality food. These certifications involve a rigorous audit process, where farms are evaluated on factors such as crop management, wise water water, fair labour practices and pest control.
“Sustainability certifications such as Organic or Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) recognise farms that prioritise environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and animal welfare. These certifications promote practices such as crop rotation, composting, and biodiversity conservation. For Zimbabwean farmers, getting certified can have numerous benefits including the opening of new markets and enhanced access to markets like larger overseas retailers and restaurants. Certification can also help farmers to improve their operations and reduce their environmental impact. By implementing the standards, farmers can efficiently use water and minimise the use of chemical pesticides, which not only help the environment but also savemoney. In addition to the benefits for farmers, certification can also provide assurance to consumers that the food they are buying is safe, sustainable, and of high quality,” she said.
Mrs Tsarwe said TIMB is increasing accessibility and affordability of consultancy services to farmers who are also growing food crops for exports.
“Through the public lectures, private consultancy and development of training materials, TIMB seeks to demystify the certification process and improve participation of local farmers in food export value chains. Although this initiative was primarily designed for bona fide tobacco farmers, TIMB has opened doors for all farmers in line with Rural Development 8.0,” she said.
