Tobacco farmers bullish over 300 million kg target

STAKEHOLDERS in the tobacco sector are optimistic of producing 300 million kilogrammes of the crop in the 2023/2024 cropping season despite the late onset of the rains and decreased number of registered growers.

Latest figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) indicate that the number of registered growers, as at December 1, 2023, was 22 percent lower than the 144 434 recorded during the same period last year. As at December 1, 2023, the number of registered tobacco growers stood at 112 087.

In the 2023 selling season, the country achieved a record output of 296,1 million kg worth million.

The World Meteorological Organisation’s warning of El Niño conditions could severely impact farm output in Zimbabwe and some regional countries.

The weather experts have predicted that Zimbabwe and some regional countries will likely experience a drought in the 2023/2024 summer farming season.

In an interview, TIMB chairman Mr Patrick Devinish said despite the delayed onset of the summer cropping season due to late rains, stakeholders in the tobacco industry are optimistic of attaining the 300 million kg target since the crop does not require much rainfall and given good agronomic practices.

“Our early target is 285 million kilogrammes of tobacco, but don’t forget that the rains haven’t come yet and the smallholders haven’t planted yet and they are the biggest, constituting 65 percent of this crop. There is nothing to worry about yet. We could easily get 300 million kilogrammes if we get the rains anytime from now.

“As the rains come, we will be able to give more accurate figures because we will be having the hectarage and all the other things,” he said.

Of late, other parts of the country have received some rains that have seen some farmers planting various crops. This has been in defiance of advice from agricultural experts that the rains did not mark the onset of the 2023/2024 planting season. In the past couple of weeks, Zimbabwe has been enduring dry spells, reflecting signs of the predicted drought.

So far, a total of 44 933 hectares (ha)