Targeted Tobacco Hectarage Remains on Course

Source from:  Business Reporter 01/29/2008

ZIMBABWE remains on course to meet its targeted hectarage for tobacco during the current season of 60 000 hectares with over 97 percent of the targeted hectarage having been planted to date. According to statistics made available by the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board, a total of 58 048ha had been transplanted by end of last Friday, representing about 96,7 percent of the targeted hectarage. A total of 48 123ha of tobacco was transplanted under dryland across the country, which is about 80.2 percent of the targeted hectarage. TIMB said some 9 907ha was translated under the irrigation countrywide, representing 16,5 percent of the targeted hectarage. Mashonaland Central planted the biggest hectarage under the dryland crop of 15 883ha followed by Mashonaland West with 13 924ha, Mashonaland East with 11 834ha, Manicaland with 6 229ha, Masvingo with 60ha and Midlands with 193ha. With regards to the irrigated crop Mashonaland Central had the highest hectarage of 3 837ha followed by Mashonaland West with 3 224ha, Mashonaland East with 2 22ha and Manicaland with 620ha. Mashonaland Central planted the biggest cumulative hectarage inclusive of area under dryland and irrigation of 19 720ha representing 32,8 percent, followed by Mashonaland West with 17 148ha representing 28,5 percent and Mashonaland East with 14 060ha, representing 23,4 percent. Manicaland had 6 867ha which translate to 11,4 percent, while Midlands had 193ha representing 0,3 percent and Masvingo had 60ha, representing 0,1 percent. According to the report, in the irrigated areas curing of the crop was in progress and quality was very good. The report indicated that reports of incidents of hail that had been received from some districts had declined. With regards to 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 December and early this month. TIMB noted, however, that severe leaching had been experienced in many crops, which was now in urgent need of top-dressing fertilizer. The report also noted that while improvements had been noted in December subsequent power outages had had more painful experiences in all areas in recent weeks. A production target of 120 million kilogrammes for tobacco has been set for next year. A total of 495 kilogrammes of tobacco seed had been sold by the end of September 2007 making it an all time record for the country. Reserve bank governor Dr Gideon Gono, who has declared this summer cropping season as 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. The support price was later 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. Enditem