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

Ambition made of sterner stuff

“My husband lost his job as a general hand when the company he worked for in Bulawayo closed down”, said Taipa Ngoshi (45), a female tobacco grower based in Maunga farm in Karoi. 

Following this, Ngoshi and her husband went to stay with their in-laws on a farm where her father- in-law was a tobacco farmer .This was the only option available to them. 

"My father in-law gave us a portion of land and encouraged us to grow tobacco.

“We committed to learning good agronomic practices in tobacco production as it was our only way out”  Ngoshi said. 

She added that in year 2000 they acquired two hectares of land under the land reform programme. Her husband encouraged her to register as a grower. 

 “Barely three years later, just when we thought our lives were beginning to flourish and we were happy as a family, my husband fell ill. He died after a short illness. Without warning, I became both the father and mother to our children”,  Ngoshi revealed.

 She immediately took over the fields and all ensuing processes.

 "We had good crop in the field when he died and I was determined to see it through. I made a resolve to fight poverty through hard work. I produced good tobacco at the end of the season”, she explained.

She said growing tobacco has sustained her and her two daughters fro the time her husband passed on.

   " I am now contracted to Zimbabwe Leaf Tobacco (ZLT) which is a good thing as the organisation is helpful when it comes to inputs, best practices as well as recent information with regards to tobacco production.

“I planted 2 hectares of tobacco and I got about 4 000 kilogrammes last season under the ZLT contract. ZLT is so supportive, it provides farming inputs and an extension officer to guide us during the season. That is how I survive. We do not complain about prices”, Ngoshi said with a smile. 

  

She said her farming project has enabled her to take care of her children, the welfare of the late brother's children and her parents who are now advanced in age.

Apart from tobacco, Ngoshi is doing producing groundnuts to make peanut butter for family consumption as well as the local market. 

Ngoshi bought a stand she intends to build a house on in the near future .She also hopes to buy farm equipment. 

 Ngoshi says she encountered both the good and ill in her journey but has never shifted her focus from tobacco.  
“I usually have challenges when it’s time for harvest especially with reaping. It’s a mammoth task to transport the harvested leaves of tobacco from the fields to the barn. It is an enormous task particularly for us ladies. When my husband was alive it was not as bad as it is now”

“In 2012, I encountered a lot of spongy tobacco due to delay in transporting and curing leading to decreased prices. Challenges are however part of life and I will not give up”, Ngoshi added.

Ngoshi is also considering drip irrigation facility being offered by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) in order to mitigate the impact of climate change.

 She urges women to take part in the growing of tobacco in order to increase their visibility in society and to fend for their families.

“I would like to encourage other women, widows and single mothers in particular to register as growers so that they can fend for themselves. I eat from the sweat of my hands. For me remarrying is not an option. There is AIDS and I do not want to leave  behind my children a miserable lot”, she said with a chuckle.

She said given an equal opportunity women can become economically independent  as acyive and productive farmers.

Ngoshi is one of the over 80,000 registered tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe who are generating 21% of the country’s foreign currency. 

Close to a three million people in Zimbabwe are directly dependent on tobacco production while the industry directly and indirectly employs over 350 000 people from the farms to the factories. 

The capital investment in the tobacco industry runs into billions of dollars, covering farming infrastructures, industrial complexes, equipment, machinery for processing and storage facilities.

The tobacco industry as a whole is a significant contributor to the economic health of Zimbabwe. 

Close to three million people in Zimbabwe are directly dependent on tobacco production while the industry directly employs over 350 000 people  from the farms to the factories.

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

Drip Irrigation brings hope in the face of climate change

Buhle Nkomo
Ketie Chapata (43) a small scale tobacco farmer based in Odzi in Manicaland Province could not contain her excitement after the successful installation of a drip facility at her plot last Friday.

“I am over the moon. This means better yield, improved quality and more money. I can now transplant beginning of September and do not have to wait for the onset of the rains. Last season my yield was low and so was my average price of $2.50 per kilogram. With drip irrigation I can plan my planting, reaping and curing. When my crop is in stress I can do something about it, that is the power of drip irrigation”, said Chapata.

 “Farming is my major source of livelihood hence I cannot afford to sit on my laurels, now that I have the drip facility, I will apply for the rocket barn facility as well as for the command agriculture programme”, added on Chapata.

“If tobacco fails for one reason or another, I should be able to fall back onto my poultry project or my horticulture farming both of which I started from proceeds from tobacco to augment my income. Last season my tobacco was affected by sun burn and pythium root rot disease but with water I believe these challenges are easier to manage” said Chapata. 

“My contract with TIMB does not restrict the use of the drip facility only to tobacco farming hence I will be able to also water my vegetable garden and make more money. In fact, it is easier to produce tobacco when you have money” she added on.

Drip irrigation is generally considered the most appropriate agriculture technology amid the climate change challenges faced by tobacco farmers across the country. 

A prolonged dry spell during the critical growing stage of the crop can greatly affect yield and to address this issue, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) came up with drip irrigation initiative for tobacco farmers with a revolving fund accessed from financial services at very low interest rates and payable over two seasons.

Tobacco farmers are urged to apply for the drip irrigation system offered by TIMB for a quality crop and increased yields.

For a farmer to qualify for the drip irrigation programme, they should have a water source such as a borehole, weir, river or dam and should have been farming tobacco in the last two seasons.

If one does not qualify for the TIMB scheme but have the required amount of money which is plus or minus $1500 per hectare, they can also approach Driptech or another competent company independently for a suitable irrigation design.

While our national average yield is 2200 kilogrammes per hectare, irrigated crop can surpass 4000kgs per hectare if managed properly hence TIMB is pushing for drip irrigation as one way of adapting to climate change. 

Drip irrigation is suitable for small scale farmers who do not have water in abundance as it not only saves through directing

water to the plant but is also cheaper in terms of pumping costs. 

 With drip irrigation water is applied directly on the plant and the land between the plant rows remains dry thereby reducing weeds on the field. Some weeds have diseases that they are normally associated with and they can also be a source of non-tobacco related material. 

 Irrigation reduces the amount of scalding of upper leaves and firing of lower leaves during dry weather and can also improve the curability of crop if the tobacco is harvested during hot weather.

Farmers with an irrigation facility should develop an irrigation schedule to guide them on when to and when not to irrigate their crop as too much water can cause leaching. 

For instance, irrigation after transplanting should be considered in all situations but between establishment and knee high stages of a crop, a little moisture stress is required as it encourages deeper root development which is beneficial during grand growth period as it also improves yield and quality.

 Important to note is that irrigation is more efficient at night than during hot day time because of less evaporation.

Tobacco farmers are encouraged to apply for the drip facility at TIMB regional offices near them.

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

Intergrated Pest Management System for profitable yields.

Integrated Pest Management System for profitable yields

Buhle Nkomo

Tobacco is susceptible to a number of pests that can cause serious damage to roots, lower yield, reduce leaf quality, in some instances transmit tobacco diseases and ultimately decrease revenue.

The Tobacco Industry & Marketing Board (TIMB) encourages the implementation of practices such as the Integrated Pest Management by the tobacco farming community with a view to enhancing quality, yield and revenue while managing costs by particularly reducing unnecessary pesticide or insecticide applications.  

Integrated Pest Management can be defined as a combination of systematic biological, chemical and cultural ways of controlling pests. The thrust of Integrated Pest Management is the use of suitable environment friendly and cheaper methods of lowering pest levels in crop production.

The Integrated Pest Management is premeditated to help tobacco farmers protect their crops from pests at the lowest possible costs.

The Integrated Pest Management system which should have three aspects and the most important one being field scouting, a regular and systematic checking of the crop designed to detect the occurrence and concentration of pests.

Suitable scouting entails examining crops repetitively and on a weekly basis with an aim to collect pest samples for proper identification in order to come up with precise pest control methods.

 After identifying the pest, the farmer needs to ascertain the extent the pests have reached in a bid to determine the economic threshold, before control measures are economically and environmentally justified.

Lastly, a pest control resolutions should be established based on the number of pests or level of crop damage at which it pays to spend money on a pesticide treatment.

It is ideal that pests build to relatively large numbers to be chemically controlled for example if there a more than 10 bud-worms per 100 plants, an insecticide can be applied but if it’s not the case bud -worms can be controlled by hand picking as spraying a small number might lead to pest developing resistance.

If an insecticide is necessary, farmers should choose the most likely to target the pest and not harm beneficial insects.  If need be, systemic insecticides can be applied to the soil and taken up by the plant to control leaf-feeding insects, however farmers should consult the Tobacco Research Board (TRB) or AGRITEX officers for guidance.

There are other types of control measures that may be taken against insects in tobacco production and these include biological and cultural control methods.

Biological control method is the use of a living organism to control another living organism. This includes nematodes, pathogens, predators, and parasites thus naturally occurring predators and parasites comprise biological control agents.

These organisms can contribute a lot in controlling pests. For example, as a group, parasitic wasps, predatory stilt bugs, and other beneficial insects can kill 80 to 90 percent of bud-worms and horn-worms in a field.

Several cultural practices can help reduce insect infestations and decrease the need for insecticide applications.  The following cultural practices aid in the management of insect pests in tobacco farming.

Early land preparation can help in controlling pests. Ploughing at least four weeks before transplanting reduces cutworm infestations and may aid in wire-worm control.

Destruction of seedbed transplants as soon as practical after transplanting is completed is important as this practice keeps aphids and other insects from developing high populations on the transplants and migrating to nearby tobacco fields.

Another cultural way is the management of field borders to reduce insect habitat.  Farmers should keep field margins clear of weeds and tall grass to reduce feeding, breeding, and over wintering sites for grasshoppers and other insects that move from these sites into tobacco.

It can never be overstated that good agronomic practices in pest control are key to successful growing of a clean and heavier bodied crop leading to greater revenue due to higher quality of the leaf.

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

Registration as a Tobacco Grower & Submission of Crop Estimates.

All tobacco growers are reminded that they MUST be registered before 31 October of the year preceding the marketing year.

Requirements to be registered as a grower are:

a)   A completed application form.

b)   A recommendation letter rubber stamped and signed by the grower’s local AGRITEX officer to confirm that the grower is a bona fide tobacco grower.

 C)   Proof of land availability i.e. permit / land offer letter, or a recommendation letter from the growers local Councillor / Chief / Headman if in communal area.

d)   National Identification (certified copy)

In addition to the normal registration fee of $10 the following penalties are levied for all registrations done after the legislated deadline:

·        A penalty of $10 is charged for registration between 1st November & 31st December.

·        A penalty of $40 is charged for registration between 1st January & start of the marketing season.

·        Any registration that is done after the commencement of the marketing season attracts a penalty of $90.

Renewals can also be done using Ecocash platform and the TIMB biller code is 41986.

TIMB wishes to advise all tobacco growers that all crop estimates be submitted at any TIMB office before the start of the marketing season.

 For additional information please contact TIMB on Tel 263-04613263/70/88/88/95; 613310/17/18/19; 613532; 613425; 613431; 613108; 613911; 613604; 613925; 0772145166-9. Fax 613264 Email us on info@timb.co.zw or visit our website www.timb.co.zw