Power Cuts Delay Tobacco Transplanting

Source from:  herald.co.zw Bindura Bureau 09/20/2007

The latest wave of power cuts that has hit Mashonaland Central is delaying tobacco transplanting in the province with a mere 2 percent of the targeted 18 000 hectares of land having been transplanted so far. To avert such disruptions Government is buying generators to mitigate the effects of power cuts in tobacco, milk and horticultural production. It has already bought 150 generators and more are being imported with funds provided by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Provincial tobacco specialist Mr Tinomuonga Hove said transplanting began two weeks ago and is expected to be completed by the beginning of November for the early planted irrigated crop. So far the province has managed to plant 475,5 hectares. It is targeting to put 18 000 hectares of land under tobacco. Mr Hove said the power cuts, coupled with delays by the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe in releasing fuel to tobacco farmers, has further delayed the transplanting process. "Tobacco requires a lot of water during transplanting and the constant power cuts have really affected the transplanting process hence farmers are finding it difficult to irrigate the transplanted crop. "Sometimes farmers spend the whole day without electricity which is sometimes only reconnected late at night," Mr Hove said. Enditem