Tobacco Farmers Start Transplanting

Source from:  herald.co.zw From Bindura Bureau 09/22/2006

TOBACCO farmers in Mashonaland Central have begun transplanting their crop from nursery beds, with the province geared to increase hectarage from last season's 16 000 hectares to between 20 000 and 25 000 hectares this year. Provincial tobacco specialist in the Department of Agricultural Research and Extension (Arex) Mr Felix Taruvinga said over 740 hectares of the early planted irrigated tobacco crop has already been transplanted, marking the beginning of a new tobacco planting season. Mr Taruvinga, however, expressed concern that intermittent power cuts were adversely affecting the transplanting process in the province, as farmers need to pump water. "I have just received a complaint from one farmer who told me that power cuts were affecting the planting process. I wish the authorities concerned would consider cutting power during the night so that the transplanting process is spared," Mr Taruvinga said. He also expressed concern over the shortage of Compound C fertilizer in the province saying it was important at the transplanting stage. About 3 000 hectares of tobacco is already under irrigation in the province while about half of that would be planted later next month as late crop. The bulk of the tobacco, which would be on dry land, would be transplanted with the onset of the rainy season. Mr Taruvinga said the province expects to harvest about 40 tonnes of the golden leaf this season owing to the projected increase in hectarage. He said preparations for the new season were going on well with the timeous disbursement of loans by Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) and Agribank relieving farmers. "The early disbursement of loans by the TIMB relieved farmers and we expect the hectarage to increase this season," Mr Taruvinga said. He, however, said TIMB was giving loans to A1 farmers only but the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is expected to rescue A2 farmers with loans. "Farmers expect more funds from the RBZ which is, however, still processing the funds," he said. He also expressed concern that Government had not yet provided fuel saying the last allocation for the province was for wheat. Several other tobacco farmers were also accessing working capital through loans from Agribank. Officials at Agribank here confirmed that several farmers in the province got their loans with more expected to get their loans next Monday. Mr Taruvinga said the province was pleased with assistance from Tobacco Research Board (TRB), which gave farmers new float beds technology for raising nursery. TRB, in conjunction with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), gave the farmers a total of 30 000 float trays to prepare nurseries using the new technology. However, more than half of the benefiting farmers did not utilise the new technology after failing to buy pine tree bark from TRB, which is important in the new technology. "Most of the farmers resorted to the old system of methyl bromide which we are trying to phase out," he said. Many farmers failed to buy the pine tree bark, which is very expensive. For a seedbed that covers one hectare, farmers would fork out $2 500 for the pine tree bark. Mr Taruvinga urged farmers to ensure that they plant crops corresponding with the amount of resources at their disposal. He said straining resources would lead to production of poor quality and low yields. Some farmers were growing tobacco more than the number of barns they use. Enditem