Mash Central Farmers Plant 12 800 Hectares of Tobacco

Source from:  herald.co.zw Bindura Bureau 03/09/2008

Farmers in Mashonaland Central have planted 12 800 hectares of tobacco, a senior Agricultural Research and Extension official said yesterday. In an interview, provincial tobacco specialist Mr Felix Taruvinga said some farmers had failed to buy seedlings from established organisations like the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board. Other farmers, he said, failed to plant the crop on time because the rains came late. Mr Taruvinga said of the 12 800 hectares, 2 171 was early planted irrigated crop while the remaining 10 629 hectares of the crop were on dry land. Mr Taruvinga said the bulk of the irrigated crop was at ripping and curing stages while farmers were weeding and top dressing the late planted crop. Farmers in Mazowe district have the highest hectarage under tobacco with a total of 4 596 hectares. Mr Taruvinga said farmers were facing labour problems because of the high costs. "There is stiff competition for hired labour which is giving the labourers an opportunity to charge exorbitantly. "Most farmers end up failing to hire the labour as it would be expensive," Mr Taruvinga said. He warned farmers that the prevailing humidity provided a fertile breeding ground for diseases such as Angular Leaf Spot. Enditem