The Sunday News
Noble Ncube, Farming Reporter
THE number of new tobacco farmers for the 2015/16 growing season has declined by at least 45 percent with Matabeleland recording the lowest at two, data released by Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) shows.
Statistics from TIMB showed that by 21 January 2016, at least 9 027 farmers had registered for the season compared to 16 528 who had registered to grow tobacco during the same period last year.
Matabeleland region has so far recorded the least number of new tobacco growers with only two farmers registering for the 2015/16 season from eight registered last year.
Midlands recorded 101 from 202, Masvingo 29 from 168, Manicaland 859 from 2 772, Mashonaland East 768 from 2 937, Mashonaland West 3 552 from 5 839 and Mashonaland Central recorded the highest with 3 716 from 4 602 during the period under review.
The report showed that the new registered tobacco growers declined in various sectors.
For the period under review A1 growers declined from 5 341 to 3 294, A2 growers from 545 to 346, communal growers went down from 10 100 to 5 126 and small-scale growers declined from 542 to 261.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) chief executive officer Mr Rodney Ambrose attributed the decline of tobacco growers to poor output in the last season and less funding from institutions.
“The drop in the number of farmers undertaking tobacco farming this year is largely due to poor returns received in the 2014 and 2015 seasons against rising costs of production and increasing grower debt. The further decline is also attributed to farmers who planted the crop in November and December 2015 due to the drought conditions prevailing.
“Also further reducing returns to the farmers in the 2015 season was the imposed 1,5 percent growers levy on farmers’ sales, under the guise of an Afforestation Levy. This levy removed $8 million from the farmers’ pockets.
These funds could have otherwise been used to purchase inputs and clear debts for many farmers this past season,” he said
Mr Ambrose said to alleviate these challenges there was a need for good agricultural practices, compliancy and traceability of tobacco grown, removal of price distortions on selling floors, removal of the grower levy, increase in yields and most importantly improvements in quality, grading and presentation of tobacco.
As a result of less new growers, the total number of farmers who have registered to grow tobacco for the 2015/16 season also declined.
TIMB said a total of 70 430 farmers have so far registered for the upcoming season compared to 88 613 who had registered by the same time last year. This indicates a 21 percent decline.
Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union executive director Mr Paul Zakariya said the main reason for declined tobacco farmers was the delay of the rains which led to a late farming season. He said this made them to turn to other crops.
“Slow start of the season discouraged a lot of tobacco farmers. Another reason is the prices that were offered during the selling season. The farmers said they were very low. These farmers were also making losses during the year, so low prices triggered them to shift to growing other crops,” he said.
Mr Zakariya said to solve the problems there was a need for the private sector and the Government to engage each other and come up with projects that will enhance farmers with knowledge of growing the crop in this changing climate.
