Zimbabwe: Educational Campaign to Benefit Tobacco Farmers

Source from:  The Herald (Harare) 14 June 2007 06/15/2007

TOBACCO farmers are expected to gain from a nationwide educational and awareness campaign sponsored by the Tobacco Research Board. The training programme is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 16 in all the tobacco growing districts of Zimbabwe. The training, being conducted by the TRB, is aimed at equipping tobacco farmers with more advanced farming techniques. "The aim is to improve on the production of the golden leaf in Zimbabwe as well as be able to export more of the product. "The Tobacco Research Board will also equip the farmers with the latest information on sustainable production to boost the tobacco yields. "The board has also acquired some new technologically advanced equipment such as the float trays for the production of tobacco seedlings on which the farmers will be trained on how to use them for better production," the board said in a statement. Tobacco is one of Zimbabwe's main foreign currency earners and has over the years, grown to be of high interest to many farmers hence the need to keep them equipped on the pertinent issues regarding the art and science of tobacco growing. TRB and the farmers would discuss a number of topics including the golden leaf's improved varieties for better yields, pest management and related legislation, production basics and float tray seedbeds technology. Enditem