Experiences of a tobacco farmer

David Danger (54), a tobacco farmer from Headlands in Manicaland Province started tobacco farming in 1997 at Graham Ross’ farm as a farm labourer, and his has been a tale of from rags to riches.

“At first we wore shirts torn in the back but we were committed to succeed.”Today, Danger is a proud owner of 25 herd of cattle and has managed to install a borehole and a solar system at his household.

''Graham Ross saw how committed I was to my work and my eagerness to learn as well as skill and he promoted me to be his farm manager, Danger said.''

''He encouraged me to do something on the side and now am a tobacco farmer in my own right as I produce tobacco on three hectares and maize on one hectare, besides working on Ross’ farm, he added.''

''Ross has been supportive of my farming activities and has given me his old equipment including tractors after he bought new equipment.''

''One thing I learnt from Ross’s management style is that he is always on the ground as he is not a cell phone farmer. This season I managed to produce 3000kgs per hectare at an average price of $4.00 per hectare at my plot .''said Danger.

The national average yield per hectare is 2200 kilograms per hectare at an average price of $2.94 per kg.

Danger attributed his good returns to good agronomic practices and discipline.
  
“Planning is a critical success factor in tobacco farming, for instance, to be a successful farmer, one should ensure that they have adequate barn space to avoid wastage as leaves rot” said Danger.

He added:  “The same concept applies to seedbed as three beds of seedling can give you a hectare of tobacco and three hectares would require nine beds of conventional seedbeds.”

Danger emphasized the importance of uniformity right from the seedbed as he mentioned the need for farmers to avoid borrowing seedlings of different size and quality so as to have a uniform crop.

Danger also urged growers to conduct soil testing annually to check the balance of the soil nutrients so that they would be in a position to add the necessary nutrients in recommended quantities such as nitrogen, phosphate and potassium amongst others.

One cost effective practice that Danger adopted is manual basal fertiliser application using cup numbers 22 and 16 on either side of the plant as opposed to using a tractor.

“We used to ridge with a tractor and ridger until we realised that as the tractor turned at the end of the field, we lost a lot of fertiliser.”

Danger also emphasized the need to study the selling environment and make appropriate decisions.

“I changed the floor where I was selling after having not been happy with the prices; thereafter I fetched good prices of $4.99 per kilogram.''

“Since I don’t have irrigation equipment, I use bed or normal ridges because they conserve lots of moisture. I am also considering the drip irrigation programme offered by Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board.”

As a way of managing the farm, Danger also follows meteorology services reports and maintain records of activities.
“Last season we planted on the 15^th of September and for this season, the start of the rain season will determine when we transplant onto the field”, he said

Danger does not have a firewood plantation hence for curing he relies on buying sustainably produced firewood from Hunyani Forests.

“I do not have woodlots because my space is limited. I however do not use indigenous trees as I know implications to the environment. I buy wood for curing from Hunyani”, Danger said.

David Danger, scooped the TIMB first prize for the best tobacco exhibit at Makoni Agricultural Show on Friday, 9^th September 2016 where he walked away with one hectare implements courtesy of the TIMB.

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board has been holding similar competitions at different provincial and district agricultural shows around the country with an intention of promoting good quality Zimbabwe flavoured tobacco, the country is renowned for.

At the national level, different partners joined hands to sponsor prizes at the Harare Agricultural Show, something which has been absent for 17 years.

The national prize was won by Craig Dankweats of Peacey Estates Mashonaland East Province while number two went to Cecilia Jim and number three went to Jonathan Musoki of Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central respectively.

 

For additional Information contact
TIMB on telephone numbers 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
Number 08006003 / 0731999999 or E-mail: info@timb.co.zw