Tanzania: Tobacco Growers Increasing in Mara

Source from:  Daily News  09/09/2013

THERE has been a significant increase in the number of tobacco in villages of Serengeti District in Mara Region after realising that there are huge profits to be made from the cash crop.

Latest official figures indicates that the district has recorded around 1,000 new tobacco growers during this crop season (2013/2014) alone.

Statistics also show that the number of growers has increased from less than 1,000 in 2007 to nearly 3,000, according to Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania Ltd.

"In 2007 there were less than 1,000 tobacco farmers here but they have increased to around 3,000 this season and production has also increased by almost six fold," Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania Ltd Mara Regional Leaf Manager, Mr James Gichuche revealed in an exclusive interview with the 'Daily News' in Mugumu.

The tobacco company issued farm inputs valued at 1.4bn/- to Serengeti farmers last season (2012/2013) that enabled them to produce 2.9 million kilos of tobacco sold to the company ( Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania Ltd) at 8.4bn/-.

"The profitability is super and unquestionable. We have reliable customers and the market is available for even up to 6 million kilos," Mr Gichuche said. The tobacco company also gave Serengeti District Council 421m/- as revenue during the same period.

Serengeti District Council had earlier projected to make 200m/- in revenues from tobacco production. Authorities are urging farmers and Serengeti District Council to make good use of the money generated from tobacco last season.

"This is nearly 9bn/- and making such money in a single season is not easy. Use it wisely to improve living conditions instead of adding wives.

The council budgeted to get 200m/- from tobacco but the figure shot up to 421m/-. Do not misuse the surplus," Serengeti Acting District Commissioner (DC), Mr Joshua Mirumbe told a stakeholders meeting discussing development of the crop in the area last week.

Effective measures are in place to increase production from 2.9 million kilos in Mara this season, according to Mr Gichuche. "Already there are nurseries with enough seedlings with the aim of harvesting four million kilos this season," he said.

Production of tobacco in the region goes hand in hand with measures designed to promote food security in the area. "Long rain seasons are set aside for cultivation of food crops to ensure food sustainability," the official further said.

Meanwhile, Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania Ltd has 5 million tree seedlings planted in tobacco growing villages and as well within compounds of public institutions such as schools, hospitals and police posts.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring that introduction of tobacco farming does not cause environmental threats in the area. Enditem