Zimbabwe: BAT Establishes Gum Seedlings

Source from:  The Herald 12/07/2009

BRITISH American Tobacco has started establishing tree nurseries for tobacco farmers contracted by the company. The Masomera community in Marondera will be the first to benefit after the local leadership raised concerns that an ecological disaster was looming because farmers were indiscriminately cutting trees to use as fuel for curing tobacco. BAT corporate affairs manager Mr Edward Mandiveni said yesterday they had established a nursery with 103 000 seedlings at Cheziya Farm. "These eucalyptus, acacia and musasa seedlings will be used to establish plantations for the future curing of tobacco for our contracted farmers. "We've also established another nursery with 200 000 seedlings in Beatrice and will supply other farmers not contracted to us at a limited cost, as well as schools," said Mr Mandiveni. He said the seedlings would be distributed during the national tree planting week running under the theme: "Combat climate change, conserve and plant trees." Mr Mandiveni said they have over 2 000 tobacco growers contracted to them in the northern region alone. "We have 2 000 growers in Nyazura, 300 in Karoi, 200 in Guruve, 50 in Centenary and 30 in Marondera who are set to benefit from the programme," said Mr Mandiveni. At least 5 million seedlings are to be planted countrywide through the help of the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe and the Environment Management Agency. Enditem