Experiences of a farm manager

Buhle Nkomo

“I grew up on a farm where my father was a laborer. I developed keen interest in tobacco production at a tender age but was not be allowed to work hence I gained knowledge on tobacco production from the peripheries” said Stanley Damuson (43).

   

"I later on enrolled in courses in farming, short and others extensive. I have implemented what I learnt and in some instances fine-tuned the theory to suit my environment through adjusting and seeing what works."

''Farming is a continuous learning process, where sometimes you learn formally, other occasions you share knowledge with other farmers or you learn from your own experiences and mistakes.''

''My dream came true when I was employed as the Forester section H farm manager in Mvurwi in 2003, where I oversee all the farming activities.'' he said.

''Having grown on a farm and as a child to a farm worker, I have a soft spot for our work force and I want them to have a sense of belonging, this way I have realized farm laborers work better and produce more. ''continued Damuson

''I am very particular about implementing good agronomic practices as this guarantees good yield and quality leaf which translates to good prices at the floors and better income for everyone involved.

''The secret to tobacco farming is land preparation. If you cannot prepare your land properly, you compromise yield as well as the quality of the leaf.

''We start disking around mid-January then we apply glyphosate which is a chemical used to fight weeds before we apply lime in order to neutralize and balance the soil’s pH levels in preparation for the tobacco crop.'' he advised

''After disking, we start ploughing in a bid to maintain a weed free ground as this helps to manage diseases and insects that may be hosted by the weeds. Ploughing is then followed by ridging to conserve moisture.

  

''We usually grow tobacco for two years then we put maize for two seasons before we plant Katambora Rhodes grass for another two years. We benefit from this crop rotation as tobacco leaves a lot of residual fertilizer for the maize which in turn, together with the Katambora Rhodes grass, frees the land from nematodes.

''I keep a diary of all our activities and schedules of our operations such as irrigation, fertilizer application. Keeping a diary is a very important practice for all serious farmers. As I go through my diary, I internalize my operations and have everything on my fingertips, even as I sleep, I know exactly what each field needs.'' Damuson said.

''Depending on the market we produce tobacco for, we determine whether we want to produce orange styles or lemon styles of tobacco, something alien to many small scale farmers although very important.

''We staggered the planting of different fields so as to ease pressure on barns when it comes to curing and we are currently reaping and curing the crop that we planted on the first of September.

''There is need for a degree of thoroughness and determination throughout the tobacco production cycle. Although we have faced different challenges, we have soldiered on. '' he said.

''Generally Mvurwi does not receive much rainfall which is a challenge to the dry land-crop hence we have extracted our own dams using tractors and dumpers so as to reduce area that is not irrigated. We are currently considering the installation of drip irrigation to save on water. 

''We have yielded 4000 – 4400kgs per hectare on irrigated crop and sometimes have gone up to about 3300 – 3500kgs per hectare on dry land crop.

"We have experienced hailstorm in the past seasons but our crops are always insured by Peter Liester. When we experienced the hailstorm, they came and assessed the damage in the field before compensating for the loss. "he said

Damson concluded by urging tobacco growers to implement good agronomic practices to experience a bumper harvest and obtain good prices during the selling season.

 

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

Crop Insurance to manage tobacco farming risks.

Buhle Nkomo

Rains are sometimes accompanied by hailstorm and lightning and these are major concerns for tobacco farmers as they can be very destructive.

Hailstorm is a solid precipitation that can wreak havoc on the tobacco leaves while lightning is a sudden electrostatic discharge which can destroy vast areas of the tobacco crop. 

The good news however is farmers can insure their crop against the sudden and disturbing incidents with reputable insurance companies to avert losses associated with hailstorm and lightning.

Whilst farmers from hailstorm prone areas cannot afford not to insure their tobacco crop, farmers from other areas can consider taking insurances for barn fires as well as goods in transit which covers theft of tobacco bales which may take place between the farm and the floors.  

  

Unlike other kinds of insurances where you first pay your initial premium or have a waiting period before you are covered, insurances for risk associated with farming are only paid for at the end of the season after you have sold your crop. 

  

This is a bonus because first time tobacco farmers can be covered after filling in a stop order form and attaining certificate of insurance. 

The premium which is deducted as a percentage upon sale is only made after one has finally sold their crop at the floors. 

Acquiring a reputable insurance cover enables the farm to gain their feet in the face of poor yields due to hailstones, theft or barn fires hence the need for farmers to be covered. 

When ensuring the tobacco crop, one should consider the magnitude of loss to the business and whether they will be able to recover from it in the event of misfortune happening. 

  

Crop insurance is a risk management method for farmers which they can use to financially recover from natural disasters during the tobacco growing season. 

  

When choosing insurance companies, tobacco farmers should be astute about the history, reputation and record of the company and not just randomly select any company at their disposal since some insurance firms prey on unsuspecting farmers in order to fleece them of their hard earned money hence where not sure, farmers are advised to contact the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).

  

Farmers are urged to read and understand the policy and strictly adhere to it so as to avoid disappointment.

Some policies for instance require farmers to report hailstorm to the insurer within three days and doing so after a week is not prudent.

  

Farmers should also choose the most effective and affordable insurance company so as to contain their production costs. 

Having insured their crops, tobacco farmers are also encouraged to consider insuring the future of the tobacco industry by joining the rest of the nation in tree planting as establishing woodlots is a way of doing so. 

Tobacco should never be cured using indigenous trees but sustainable produced firewood.

Woodlots around the field also act as windbreaks hence tobacco farmers are encouraged to consider wind breaks such as trees or shrubs in order to reduce wind speed on the tobacco crops since the crop may not be able to withstand harsh wind which may damage leaves. 

Farmers who already have woodlots are encouraged not to cut trees that are at the wind ward side of the field as they might help to block wind efficiently. 

As a thumb of a rule, the tobacco field must not be in an open or deforestation subjected area to protect wind from breaking the leaves hence farmers without woodlots are encouraged to plant trees.

Farmers are implored to insure their tobacco crop through reputable insurance companies as well as insure the future of the tobacco industry through sustainable tobacco production which has tree planting as one of its critical success factors.

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

 

 

Producing clean leaf for market

Buhle Nkomo

The price a farmer attains at the selling floors is determined among other factors by the seed one sows hence farmers are urged to use certified seed as maintenance of genetic purity in seed is the primary objective of seed certification.

 This suggest that the all seed contained in a seed lot is homogeneous and contains no seed of another variety or type.

 The certification process provides strict standards for seed production that seed producers follow.
These standards include for example, the producer’s registration for multiplying and selling tobacco seed according to local regulations as well as field and packing facility inspections.

In addition, every lot produced must pass a laboratory test.

 Consequently, it is important that farmers purchase certified seeds as non-certified seeds may lead to poor yield as they can carry certain diseases that can be seed-borne and this may cause the leaf to be infected.

 Not every tobacco seed variety does in every part of the country therefore tobacco farmers are encouraged to consult AGRITEX, Tobacco Research Board (TRB) or TIMB and tobacco contracting merchants in case of contracted growers for most suitable varieties for their areas.

 It is worth noting that variety selection is the foundation for achieving the market desired tobacco leaf quality, subjective characteristics as well as for optimizing farmer yield.

 Tobacco producers need to meet the requirements of the buyers which are physical and chemical integrity, if their efforts are to translate to profits.

Physical integrity is achieved by delivering to the market a product that is free from non-tobacco related material (NTRM) such as grasses, feathers, plastic, and string amongst other materials while chemical integrity of the leaf has more to do with reduction in pesticide residues, correct concentrations of nicotine, minimizing tobacco-specific nitrosamines.  

There is constant monitoring by tobacco buyers, TIMB and customers to ensure the integrity of the product.

To achieve the required integrity, it is of utmost importance that farmers adopt some of the following agronomic measures throughout the season.

 Tobacco, like any crop, needs to be protected from pests and diseases and a variety of techniques are promoted to prevent or suppress crop pests and disease that gives priority to the use of physical, mechanical, cultural, and biological control methods, and the least possible use of agrochemicals.

These methods include use of resistant varieties, crop rotation, use of attractant or repellent plants, and destruction of crop residues.

 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the best practice to use as it emphasizes also a biological approach by sequencing preventive and control measures that impose the least environmental impact.

These programs are based on identifying pests and diseases and beneficial organisms or cultural techniques adapted to local conditions and establishing economic threshold levels to determine what treatments are necessary to reduce risk of financial loss.

Farmers are expected to apply Crop Protection Agents (CPA)/chemicals as a last resort and only as a result of monitoring and scouting when the corresponding economic threshold levels have been reached.
Monitoring and scouting must be done on all tobacco farms.

 Monitoring and scouting involves recording pest and beneficial insect numbers across the tobacco field for a reliable estimation of the potential economic impact of damage from the pests.

 Recording pest and beneficial insects’ numbers in the field can also help define the appropriate non-chemical control methodology if required.

 If chemicals or CPAs are being used, it is advised to only use products that have been approved by Tobacco Research Board (TRB) and gazetted by TIMB.

When using chemicals, farmers should follow the correct timing and dosage recommendations which are always indicated on the product label, warning label and instruction manuals.

 Farmers should shy away from purchasing chemical products that have not been approved by and bearing a TRB registration number.

 When in doubt, farmers are advised to consult TRB, TIMB or AGRITEX.

As rule of the thumb, growers are encouraged to rotate crops as it is essential to break pest and disease cycles and to maintain or improve fertility.

 Farmers are encouraged to destroy seedbeds after transplanting as the tobacco plant Pests and Disease Act (Chapter 19:08) stipulates that all seedbeds should be destroyed by 31 December of every year and field crop residues after harvest.

 Destroying seedbeds and crop residues which are, stalks and roots, must be undertaken in a timely manner after the production cycle has ended to limit the potential for pest and disease transmission.

 It is important to control weeds proliferation until the end of the harvest as doing this assures greater productivity, better quality as well as reducing foreign material.

Contrary to some farmers’ thinking that some section of the production process matter more than others, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board urges farmers to give equal weight to all processes from selection of seed variety, buying certified seeds right through to marketing and presentation as they all have a bearing on profit margins.

                                           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 E-mail: info@timb.co.zw

Farmer encourages investment in infrastructure

Buhle Nkomo

Installation of an irrigation system is ideal for every farm and a dream for many farmers.


Tobacco farming is the country's largest foreign currency earner.

Tariro Dengwa (29) a tobacco farmer from Marondera has managed to invest in this capital intensive and labour involving yet very rewarding fit as she has installed an irrigation system to water her crops.

“I started tobacco farming in 2013 and have gradually increased my hectares from 1.5 hectares to the current eight, and most importantly I have managed to invest in irrigation infrastructure”, said Dengwa.

Dengwa whose net income this season was US$49000 has four hectares of irrigated tobacco and four on dry land.

From her proceeds, she purchased farm equipment which include a tractor, a truck and another 10,000 litre water tanks to store water for irrigation purposes.

Dengwa engaged people who constructed a weir and it was plastered and strengthened with cement.

Besides tobacco farming, Dengwa has a herd of cattle, a band of sheep, a tribe of goats, a gang of turkeys, a brood of roadrunners as well as a flock of geese.

As a way of crop rotation Dengwa said that they cultivate maize and beans which they then sell to individual business people, boarding schools, milling companies, have some for family consumption and sometimes pay for labour for those who would prefer maize to money.

“I started tobacco farming because it was said to be lucrative although I did not have adequate knowledge. Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board should invest more in extension services because for one to attain good quality and yields, one ought to adopt good farming practices. I use a farming booklet that I got from Kutsaga as my guide and it has helped me put the correct amount of fertilisers”, Dengwa added on.

“During the first two years I wasted money on labour since I used hired workers that charged per day. I now have permanent workers whom I pay approved wages on a monthly basis. These are the same people that we work with when we are grading so that we maintain the same grade of tobacco”, Dengwa said.

“Another seemingly small yet critical issue is weed management. Anything which is not tobacco in a tobacco field is a weed, and this includes other crops such as pumpkin leaves. I monitor my plants every day”, said Dengwa.

“I have also invested in rocket barns because even if you have a good leaf if it is not properly cured, you are doomed to failure,” she said.

She added “During last season when we experienced El-Nino induced long dry spells, for my dryland crop, I dug holes between plants which we filled with water so as to try and conserve moisture”.

“Being a tobacco farmer is not a walk in the park; there is no time to rest, because while you are waiting for the crop to mature, you will be preparing barns, once it matures, you start curing and taking the product to the market and while the marketing is ongoing, you destroy stalks and start on land preparation and the cycle continues” said Dengwa.

“One never has adequate financial resources and I encourage my female counterparts to venture into tobacco farming without hesitating because it is not intimidating as it looks.

"It is lucrative and a good vehicle of women empowerment as it enables us to provide for our families.

 "Tobacco is a commendable crop because it has a ready buyer no matter what quality one produces. It is also enables us to contribute significantly to economic growth and national development of Zimbabwe”, Dengwa concluded.

Producing tobacco with environment in mind

Buhle Nkomo

It is essential for farmers to understand their environment and the threats they pose to their natural environment in order for them to successfully implement farming practices that mitigate environmental hazards and effects of climate change while producing quality yields.

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) encourages tobacco growers to consider the impact of tobacco production on the environment and therefore preserve natural resources, observe good and environmentally friendly agronomic and waste management practices to mitigate climate change. 

These practices should cut across from land preparation stage right through to the curing of tobacco, including water management, soil management, and pollution control on farm and fuel efficiency.

The focus for the farmers is to grow quality tobacco with minimal impact on the farm, environment and the surrounding areas. 

As the rain season begins, tobacco farmers are encouraged to be sustainable-minded and engage in using an arsenal of methods to conserve water through water management and improved irrigation techniques to increase water efficiency and avoid drought.

Following all the legal environment requirements in liaison with the Environment Management Authority (EMA), farmers can build ponds or small dams to capture and store rainfall water for use throughout the season while excavation of water holding reservoirs can be done to collect water during heavy rains for future use.

After capturing water one can consider installing the water conserving drip irrigation facility for their plot or farm.  

One advantage of using drip irrigation is reduced risks of erosion and nutrients depletion as water and fertilizers are more easily absorbed by the soil and plants.

Major environmental related farm pollutions are water, air and soil pollution hence tobacco farmers need to protect the soil from a number of possible threats such as erosion, organic matter decline, and contamination as a way of protecting the environment.

  

To avoid soil pollution tobacco farmers are urged to embrace feasible techniques to provide the best possible conditions for plant growth, while avoiding possible soil loss or deterioration. 

  

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is a systematic way of controlling pests and diseases, and combines chemical, cultural and biological preventative measures into one programme allowing farmers to use pesticides when needed can be used to reduce the risk of crop loss and to minimise harm on the environment. 

  

For appropriate and recommended chemicals in tobacco production farmers should consult with the Tobacco Research Board as environmental degradation also results from pollution from pesticides and fertilizers.

  

 Applications of pesticides are required to protect the plant from insects and diseases however, the frequent application of pesticides decreases the long term fertility of the soil and causes soil pollution hence farmers are advised to adhere to prescribed quantities and to dispose empty pesticide containers properly so as to avoid air pollution on the farm which is of risk to the farm’s surroundings.

At the curing stage of tobacco, farmers should be worried about fuel efficiency and wood usage as deforestation is becoming a major concern in Zimbabwe thus tobacco farmers are encouraged to apply for the fuel efficient rocket barn scheme at TIMB regional offices. 

 The rocket barn uses less wood and fuel than the conventional model and is constructed with locally available material such as farm bricks. 

Tobacco farmers are also compelled to participate in afforestation programs so as to avert deforestation problems through partnering with TIMB in the establishment of gumtree woodlots as well as consider using coal in conjunction with improved barns structures in curing rather than depending on wood alone.

Tobacco farmers are also encouraged to adopt sustainable ways of producing good quality tobacco at the same time considering their local environment and identifying and mitigating any significant risks affecting their environment. 

TIMB is offering trainings on sustainable production of tobacco and good agronomic practices within the tobacco farming regions and farmers, both male and female are encouraged to attend the training sessions which are being conducted at no cost to the farmers.  

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 E-mail: info@timb.co.zw

The business of tobacco farming

Buhle Nkomo

"When I decided to become a tobacco farmer, I quit my job and became a full time farmer " said Linda Manyore (54) a tobacco farmer based in Karoi.  

   
"My income was not adequate yet as a parent, I dreamt of sending my daughter to a very good university. I decided to quit my job and join my husband on the farm. I felt like there was more that could be done if we worked together on the farm," said Manyore

Manyore took a leap of faith when she quit her job, her only source of income to become a tobacco farmer without knowing what the future held for her. With the zeal to make strides and standout she left her comfort zone and joined her husband on the farm.

"My daughter is now pursuing a degree in Agriculture. I have four other children, two of them in boarding school. Realizing the load, I was determined to work hard on the farm”, she said with a smile.

"Let me hasten to say growing tobacco is labour intensive and its undertakings necessitate vast expertise of farming techniques as it is a crop that needs to be monitored closely.

"From my experience as a tobacco grower, I realised that for one to be successful in tobacco farming they need to start with a few hectares and closely monitor their crops throughout the season. 

"I receive advice on good agronomic practices from my husband who has vast experience as an agricultural extension officer. He is my mentor. He has a wide range of knowledge in tobacco, maize and generally horticulture.

"From my two tobacco hectares I always get 5 000 plus kilograms of good quality tobacco. My highest price is usually around $5.30 per kg," she explained.

Manyore also expressed that except for additional income from other farming ventures, tobacco farming has attracted sound infrastructure on their farm.

"I have managed to buy a 20 horse power grinding mill for maize and wheat to support our poultry project because I don’t want to outsource the feeds. I also bought a Wessex plough and also refurbished boreholes that were not functional ," she added.

Manyore is one of many female tobacco farmers who have been able to attain a stable source of livelihood from growing tobacco. 

Alice Chihumbwa, (32) from Chidakwa farm in Karoi started tobacco farming in 2010 and has been able to fend for her family from the venture. 

"I grow tobacco because it is a lucrative business one can rely on. Tobacco has empowered me as a woman. I invest my tobacco returns in my buying and selling business as a cross boarder trader, " said Chihumbwa

"I urge women in my village to use their hands and invest in their future through farming. Tobacco farming has had a positive impact on my life. My children go to good schools, my standard of living has improved, and I have a small lorry and a family car. I can afford to spoil myself and loved ones. Soon I will be buying a tractor. 

"I urge farmers to attend training programmes where they can share experiences and challenges," said Chihumbwa.

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), the Tobacco Research Board (TRB) in conjunction with AGRITEX are offering training programmes at no costs for tobacco farmers on good agronomic practices in line with current farm operations and the tobacco calendar.

Farmers can also organise themselves into a group of 20 or more and then contact TIMB which will be glad to come and hold training sessions at not only no cost to the farmers but with training material and meals availed.

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 E-mail: info@timb.co.zw