Zimbabwe: Farmers Welcome New Tobacco Seedling Growing Technique

Source from:  The Herald (Harare) September 1, 2006 09/04/2006

TOBACCO farmers have appreciated and accepted the float tray method of producing tobacco seedlings, which is meant to phase out the use of methyl bromide in tobacco production. Methyl bromide is an ozone-depleting chemical and the Tobacco Research Board has expressed its desire to have it totally phased out by 2009. The chemical is used as a fumigant to kill harmful bacteria that affect tobacco seedlings. The board has already embarked on a massive farmer education programme on the use of the float tray system. Speaking at the Tobacco Research Board stand at the Harare Agricultural Show yesterday, a research associate with the organisation, Mr Patrick Chinamaringa, said tobacco farmers had embraced the new concept and were coming to the stand for advice. "They are really appreciating the system. They are coming here to inquire and we are explaining to them the advantages of the float tray system," Mr Chinamaringa said. He said the float tray system was environmentally friendly as compared to the use of methyl bromide. He also said a factory to produce the float trays would be opened at Kutsaga Research Station but as of now, the trays were coming from abroad with the assistance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). The board pledged to phase out 17 tonnes of methyl bromide this season while 7 500 farmers are expected to be trained in the use of the new seedling technique during the first phase of the programme. Upon completion of the training, the farmers will receive trays. Small-scale farmers would initially receive one hectare worth of support while large-scale tobacco farmers would receive five hectares worth of support upon entering into a contract with the Tobacco Research Board. Under the Montreal Protocol, which was ratified by scientists from all over the world and came into effect in the mid-1990s, methyl bromide should be totally phased out by 2009. Enditem