Yvonne
Mutava
There is a
21 percent increase in the number of growers who sold their tobacco this
marketing season compared to the 2016 season. 95 829 growers sold their tobacco
this marketing season compared to 74 575 last season.
Notable is
the 57 percent increase in the number of women who sold tobacco this season.
The
continued increase in the number of farmers in the tobacco sector, particularly
women and youths is a welcome development.
For success
in tobacco farming, one needs to adhere to good agronomic practices right from
land preparation right through to presentation and marketing.
The good
agronomic practices can be acquired from extension officers and through
attending training programmes that are availed to farmers at no cost by TIMB,
TRB and AGRITREX.
If one tries
to venture into tobacco production without guidance, proper planning and necessary
knowledge, one is certainly doomed to fail.
Prisca
Fireyi, 44 from Odzi, highlighted that in-depth knowledge on the crop and
proper planning are critical success factors to producing good quality tobacco.
“By the time
the season commences a good farmer should be ready to embark on her farming
journey,” she said.
Fireyi who
ventured into tobacco growing business in 2001 said certain processes and procedures
have to be considered and followed to avoid loss.
“ From the
land preparation stage up until the curing stage certain procedures have to be
followed. The crop appears to be a bit demanding but once a farmer is committed
and has adequate knowledge, growing tobacco is an easy task,” said Fireyi.
According to
Fireyi a farmer should consider winter ploughing before the month of June when
seedbed preparations start.
“Depending
with the farmer a field should be ploughed two or three times to remove the
weeds as well as to mix the soils.
“A farmer
must record the dates on which he or she should have applied weed or pest
chemicals.
“Another
option for a farmer is to burn maize husks in order to control weeds. This does
not always need to buy expensive chemicals. Farmers ought to learn to manage
costs without however cutting corners.
“Care should
be taken when applying fertilizers as less or too much fertilizer can also
affect the crop.
Once the
nursery is done, watering is to be managed so that it will not affect the seed
before it germinates.
The seedbed
has to be covered with grass to protect the tobacco plants from frost as well
as protecting it from being splashed by water when watering.
Amai Mkwasi 34, from Centenary echoed the same
sentiments with Fireyi saying fertilizer is number one requirement when it
comes to tobacco growing.
“Fertilizer
is a requirement which helps in producing quality yield however when applied in
excess it might lead to the destruction of the crop,” she said.
Mkwasi said she
uses cup number 30 to apply compound C, cup 5 for her initial application of Ammonium
Nitrate, cup 8 when applying the second time as well as cup 5 for Calcium
nitrate which is usually applied after topping.
The other
important aspect which should be well taken care of as said by the two ladies
is harvesting tobacco at the apt time, when it is neither green nor overripe.
“If tobacco
is harvested green, it has a fixed green colour after curing and if it is over
ripe, it turns a blackish color after curing, both scenarios which affect the
prices at the floors.
“Leaves
should be lemon or orange after curing depending with whom you are targeting to
sell to, and this is achieved in fertilizer application,” she said.
Curing is
another stage which should be handled with care, said Mkwasi. “If one fails to
manage the curing process, one may lose her crop at this stage.”
Mkwasi who
has been into tobacco growing since 2012 produce 7500 plus kilogrammes on her
three hectare farm.
“From my
tobacco proceeds, I bought a Ford Sierra, furnished my home, and I can afford
to hire tractors when ploughing, something that I could not afford in the past.
Mkwasi urged
tobacco farmers to buy coal for curing in order to reduce negative impact on
the environment.
Farmers are
urged to attend to TIMB trainings which are conducted in their regions to gain
experience and knowledge on how best to produce quality tobacco in an efficient
way.
For additional Information contact
TIMB on telephone numbers 08677004624/6 or 0772145166/9 or 0279-22082/21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268/29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free Numbers 08006003 / 0731999999 / 0712832804 or WhatsApp 0731999999 or E-mail: info@timb.co.zw
TIMB on telephone numbers 08677004624/6 or 0772145166/9 or 0279-22082/21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268/29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free Numbers 08006003 / 0731999999 / 0712832804 or WhatsApp 0731999999 or E-mail: info@timb.co.zw