Zimbabwe: Tobacco Land Preps Continue

Source from:  The Herald 07/29/2009

LAND preparations for the 2009/10-tobacco season continue countrywide with seed sold so far enough to plant 50 000 hectares. Most farmers are still concentrating on seedbed establishment with those in the low lying areas expected to start planting now. According to the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board, a total of 300 000 kg of tobacco seed had been sold by July 17, marking a 6,2 percent decrease from the 319 735kg that was sold by July 21 last year. Zimbabwe Farmers Union director, Mr Paul Zakariya said the total area targeted for seedbed area was 608 hectares and of this, a total of 110ha had been prepared. He said while fuel had been a challenge the major constraint was fertilizer. The Government set aside US$142 million for agricultural support with the US$120 million expected to be channeled towards tobacco production. This move is expected to boost production from the more than 42 million kilogrammes expected this season to 80 million kilogrammes next season. Enditem