Zimbabwe: Fertilizer, Chemical Shortages to Affect Tobacco Season

Source from:  The Herald (Harare) 10 October 2008 10/13/2008

Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board acting chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri yesterday warned that the shortage of fertilizers and chemicals would adversely affect the 2008/09 tobacco season. Dr Matibiri said tobacco farmers required 2 200 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, but so far only 50 tonnes had been supplied. He said while 10 500 tonnes of basal fertilizer were needed, only 397 tonnes were available. At least 434kg of seed, Dr Matibiri said, had been sold to growers and might be enough to plant 70 000 hectares while 2 250 000 litres of diesel and the 75 000 tonnes of coal required were yet to be supplied. The farmers also need at least 225 000kg of the chemical Temik/Aldicarb, which is not available. "Key drivers to increased tobacco production will be viability, timely availability of inputs and access to funding in light of escalating costs of production and other attendant operational challenges," he said. "Reforms in the marketing of tobacco initiated in 2004 have seen a steady increase in the hectarage supported under contract farming. "The area supported by contractors increased from 17 000ha in 2005/2006 to 27 00ha in the 2007/2008 season. "Farmers under these schemes generally obtain all their requirements from the contractor," Dr Matibiri said, citing the TIMB/Agribank scheme. Enditem