Moffat Mungazi
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
GOVERNMENT has extended the deadline for destroying tobacco seedbeds to January 15, giving rain-fed dryland tobacco growers more time to transplant, having failed to do so in time due to insufficient soil moisture.
The decision was made by Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, in consultation with the Tobacco Industry and marketing Board (TIMB) in response to the prolonged dry spell and delayed rains that affected soil moisture levels.
Normally, the Plant Pests and Diseases (Tobacco) Regulations of 1979 requires that all tobacco seedbeds be destroyed by December 31 to break the life cycle of pests and diseases that can affect tobacco plants.
However, the unusual weather conditions made it impossible for farmers to transplant their crops on time, making the extension a welcome relief for many smallholder growers who would have otherwise lost their investments.
Mr Shupikai Mvurumutiya, of Chikundu in Odzi hailed the extension of the tobacco seedbed destruction deadline, saying it allows them to transplant their crop at a more suitable time, given the current rains.
“The latest rains in Manicaland are a welcome relief for us as small-scale tobacco growers as we can now fast-track planting. This is good news (extension), given that we were struggling to plant due to delayed rains,” said Mr Mvurumutiya.
Similar reaction was echoed by Mr Difference Muchemwa, of Chitenderano in Makoni South, who said as growers, they appreciated the initiative as it supports their welfare and livelihoods.
“With the rains now providing ideal conditions for transplanting, we are optimistic about achieving our targets. The delayed and uneven rainfall distribution during the first quarter had resulted in a prolonged dry spell, which affected tobacco transplanting in communal and resettlement areas. The dry spell had limited our planting options as part of the crop had begun to show signs of moisture stress,” he said.
TIMB has registered over 107 000 tobacco growers for this season, with Manicaland seeing a significant increase of 32 percent in registered farmers.
“Considering these challenges, TIMB advocated for growers and Minister Masuka has extended the deadline to January 15, 2025. This decision ensures that farmers can preserve their investments and reap the benefits of their months of hard work.
“Tobacco production involves sowing seeds and maintaining a seedbed for three months, land preparation and preparing ridges onto which they will transplant the seedlings. Therefore, destroying all tobacco plants in seedbeds means farmers cannot transplant anymore.
“The December rains brought relief and optimism for dryland tobacco growers, marking a turning point for the 2024/25 season. As of December 27, 2024, growers had transplanted 84 661 hectares, surpassing the 82 392 hectares recorded during the same period in 2023. Additionally, 126 092 growers have been registered, compared to 112 904 growers last year. These figures highlight the industry’s resilience and growth, with a national target of 300 million kilograms of tobacco set for the season,” said TIMB in a statement.
TIMB also urged growers to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices that build resilience against erratic weather patterns.
“Tobacco growers are encouraged to control weeds to reduce competition for water, use potholes to capture rainfall and prevent runoff, and maintain proper
ridges for efficient drainage. Meanwhile, reaping of the early irrigated crop is underway with reports of promising leaf quality in areas where good agronomic practices have been followed. Maintaining high-quality tobacco is also paramount so growers are encouraged to stay on top of agronomy.
“With efforts to ensure fair competition to secure better prices for farmers, proper tobacco handling and storage are also critical to reducing post-harvest losses.”
The tobacco sector is crucial to the economy, generating significant foreign currency earnings and contributing to the country’s agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
