Judith Phiri
Business Reporter
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has announced that over 126 000 tobacco growers have registered for the 2024/25 summer cropping season, a 12 percent increase from the previous year.
In a post on X, TIMB revealed that the total tobacco hectarage has also risen to 107 368 hectares, compared to 105 119 hectares last season. This increase comes as the tobacco industry, one of the country’s major foreign currency earners, prepares for a promising season, with farmers expanding the area dedicated to the cultivation of the golden leaf.
Renowned for its high-quality leaf production, tobacco continues to be one of Zimbabwe’s most significant non-food crops, generating between US$800 million and US$1 billion annually. Farmers are optimistic about achieving their target of producing 300 million kilograms this season, with an emphasis on improving productivity.
In other news, the Government has extended the deadline for the destruction of tobacco seedbeds from the usual date to January 15, 2025. According to TIMB, the Plant Pests and Diseases (Tobacco) Regulations of 1979 require that all tobacco seedbeds be destroyed by December 31 to disrupt the life cycle of pests and diseases that can negatively impact the crops.
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“However, due to a prolonged dry spell and delayed rains, farmers relying on rain-fed dry land tobacco could not transplant on time because of insufficient water resources. The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, has extended the deadline for destroying tobacco seedbeds to January 15, 2025,” TIMB stated. This decision allows farmers to safeguard their investments and benefit from the fruits of their labour.
On January 13, TIMB will initiate a crop assessment exercise to evaluate the status of the main dry land crop, including growth stages and the progress of late dry land establishments. This assessment will provide a clearer picture of the season’s trajectory and help inform targeted support for farmers.
