Zimbabwe: Nation On Course to Meet Tobacco Target

Source from:  The Herald (Harare) 17 December 2007 12/18/2007

ZIMBABWE is on course to meet its target of 60 000 hectares for tobacco during the current season with more than half of the total having been transplanted so far. According to statistics made available by the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board in a report on the state of preparedness up to December 7, a total of 34 498ha had been transplanted, representing about 57,5 percent of the targeted hectarage. A total of 24 591ha of tobacco was transplanted under dryland across the country representing 37,6 percent of the projected hectarage. At least 9 907ha was transplanted under the irrigated crop across the country, representing 16,5 percent of the targeted hectarage. Mashonaland West planted the biggest hectarage under the dryland crop of 8 564ha, followed by Mashonaland East with 7 270ha, Mashonaland Central with 6 725ha, Manicaland with 1 992ha, Masvingo with 25ha and Midlands with 15ha. With regard to the irrigated crop, Mashonaland Central had the highest hectarage of 3 837ha followed by Mashonaland West with 3 224ha, Mashonaland East with 2 226ha and Manicaland with 620ha. Mashonaland West planted the biggest cumulative hectarage inclusive of area under dryland and irrigation of 11 788ha, followed by Mashonaland Central with 10 562ha, Mashonaland East with 9 496ha, Manicaland with 2 612ha, Masvingo with 25ha and Midlands with 15ha. According to the report, in the irrigated areas topping of crops was in progress while in others harvesting and curing has started on very early-planted crops. The report indicated that reports of hail had been received from some districts. As regards areas under dryland crop, the report said transplanting of dryland tobacco by small-scale producers was accelerated by heavier and more widespread rainfalls received during the week under review. The report, however, noted that the northern tobacco-growing districts were still to receive meaningful rainfalls at the time "Non-availability of fertilizers, especially Compound C, has been cited as a reason for reducing hectarage by some growers," read part of the report. The report noted that while fertilizer and some chemicals, especially Temik, were in short supply, power supplies had improved. A production target of 120 million kilogrammes for tobacco has been set for next year. A total of 495kg of tobacco seed had been sold by the end of September, making it an all-time record for the country. Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono, who has declared this summer cropping season the "Mother of all Agricultural Seasons," recently slashed interest rates that apply under the ASPEF facility from 50 percent to 25 percent as a way of encouraging farmers to produce. Dr Gono also increased the foreign currency account retention allowances for tobacco growers the current 20 percent to 25 percent for next year. The governor also indicated that the central bank would continue to support tobacco growers through delivery bonus schemes that reflect not only production costs but also reasonable allowance for favourable profit returns to farmers. During the just ended selling season, tobacco farmers benefited from a Government support price of $40 000, calculated on a pro-rata basis benchmarked on US$1,50 per kg. This was increased from $40 000 to $55 000 per kg towards the end of the season. In addition, a number of tobacco farmers have already benefited from the farm mechanisation programme through the provision of an assortment of farm machinery such as tractors, ploughs, disc harrows, boom sprayers and irrigation equipment, among others. In addition to funding, tobacco farmers are also benefiting from a fuel facility that was created by the Government through the Reserve Bank to enable farmers to access cheap fuel for their activities. At least nine companies have poured trillions of dollars in support of contract farming in tobacco. These include Alliance One, Chidziva Tobacco Processors, Gold Driven Investments, Tian Ze Tobacco Company, Zesa Enterprises, Zimbabwe Leaf Tobacco Company, Zimbabwe Tobacco Growing Company, Mannelie Investment and Saltlakes. The funding was in the form of chemicals and inputs after Government took a deliberate approach to initiate contract farming and sales as a way of removing the burden of financing the farmers on its own. Enditem