Tobacco production takes passion

Yvonne Mutava

With the two children at tertiary education level , a 57-year-old Tamari Kasiya is determined to see them live their dreams.

Kasiya is a tobacco farmer and supplements her agricultural activities through cross boarder trading.

"My aim is to see my children become self-sustaining and comfortable and like most parents I have to sacrifice and forgo some luxuries" said Kasiya. "When I am not in the tobacco fields , I travel  to Mozambique where I buy goods which I use to pay people who help me in the fields."

She adds: It does not take time for me to harvest my crop as many people come to help me and in return I give them goods I buy from Mozambique."

Kasiya used to work with her children but now some have their own families.

"The last two are at the University of Zimbabwe and Midlands State University pursuing their studies. This means that even if I want to retire from working in the fields , it is not possible as those two are still my responsibility"

Kasiya who has been farming other crops for a long time , decided to venture  into tobacco farming  four years ago.

" With a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders I decided  to look  for something with good returns  and for me tobacco was the best way to go" she explained.

Without any agricultural  qualification , Kasiya seeks advice from Agricultural and Technical Extension officers and this has helped her reach her targets.

"I did not have any certificate but for the  first time I went to Agritex  and that is where  I got the tips  I am still today" said Kasiya.

"Four years experience ' taught me that tobacco growing is not as complicated as many want to assume. What makes the difference is the individual attitude  of farmers , the passion. Do you take short cuts? Do you closely monitor  your crop?

"Time management is important as missing a single stage in the crop's development compromises yield and quality" she said.

A group of women  at work  in a tobacco field.

Land preparation, nursing and fertilizer application is the correct medicine to good yield if they are practiced on time.

Besides catering for her children in school, Kasiya has bought herself a Nissan Serena from her first produce.

"My lowest price is usually around $4,65 per kg. I only grow an area that I can manage. I closely monitor my crop. My focus is on quality and not quantity."

Kasiya urged other tobacco growers to attend training programs and seek advice  from their community agronomists so as to share their experiences.

After 30 days of the 2017 marketing season, farmers have realized $218 million up from $172 million last season.

There is a 28  percent increase in the tobacco deliveries this season with farmers  delivering 79 million kg compared to 61 million kg during the same period last year.

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