Zimbabwe Plantings Almost Completed

Source from:  tr.itsmyiq.com Jan 17, 2008 01/18/2008

Tobacco growers in Zimbabwe have planted 95 per cent of the targeted 60,000 ha for the 2007/2008 season despite the incessant rain that has been falling, according to a report in The Herald. The Tobacco Industry Marketing Board's acting chief executive, Dr. Andrew Matibiri, was quoted as saying that 57,000 ha had been planted so far, but that the final figure could be higher. Some growers were still planting their tobacco weeks after the end of the year, which normally marks the deadline for such activities. Dr. Matibiri said, as was the case with other crops, most of the tobacco had been affected by water-logging. It had been affected, also, by weeds because the incessant rain that had been failing all over the country was hampering weeding. In addition, he said, growers were struggling to acquire ammonium nitrate fertilizer for top-dressing, and in some instances, where it was applied, it was being washed away by the rain. Enditem