Zimbabwe: Tobacco Farmers Urged to Use Alternative Sources of Energy

Source from:  Newsnet (zw) 09/06/2004

Tobacco farmers have been called on to use alternative sources of energy and plant eucalyptus trees at their farms for curing their crop. The Forestry Commission says gum trees are alternative source of energy for farmers who are into tobacco production as coal is expensive to transport. Acting Forestry Commission Operations Manager, Mr Abednigo Marufu says eucalyptus trees grow very fast and can be used for multiple purposes. Most tobacco farmers have resorted to using firewood to cure tobacco due to the prohibitive costs of transporting coal to their areas. Mr Marufu said other crops can also grow well where gum trees have been planted but pointed out that there is need to use manure and fertilisers to boost soil fertility. He said gum trees are fast growing species and therefore tend to use nutrients very fast. Eucalyptus trees develop shoots after harvesting and this ensures a constant supply of firewood for the farmer. The Forestry Commission is now working with farmers to encourage them to grow these trees in the newly resettled areas, a development aimed at conserving the indigenous forests. Enditem