Aret Warns Against Untested Tobacco Seeds

Source from:  by Edwin Nyirongo, 14 March 2006 - 05:23:18  03/15/2006

The Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (Aret) has warned people who get seed from abroad and plant it without testing to stop the tendency that they will have negative consequences on the tobacco industry. Aret Director Eric Chilembwe said this at Kabwafu in Mzimba last week during a field day. "There are some farmers who travel outside the country and bring tobacco seeds here. Instead of bringing [the seeds] to us for testing, they plant the seeds which is dangerous," he said. Chilembwe explained that before foreign tobacco seeds are planted by farmers, they are required to be tested to find out if they are suitable for the country's soil and climate. He also said there are some diseases that attack tobacco in other countries like America which do not exist here. He said the imported seeds might easily import the diseases into the country thereby destroying the quality of tobacco. Chilembwe also said all tobacco seed his department allows people to grow has been tested and farmers are assured of not only resistance to some diseases but also high yields. He asked authorities manning the country's borders to make sure that illegal tobacco seeds are impounded to avoid contaminating the local crop and soil with strange diseases which would be difficult to treat. Inkosi Mpherembe of the area thanked Aret for organising field days, saying they help farmers to communicate with the experts in the tobacco industry. But he asked government to increase the quantity of subsdised fertiliser to poor tobacco farmers. "Much as we appreciate the fact that government has subsdised tobacco fertiliser for the poor farmers, we feel four bags are not enough and that the number should increase so that the farmers can realise enough income to support their families," he said. Inkosi Mpherembe also warned the farmers against putting stones in their tobacco bales, saying that is theft and will also uproot the trust that buyers have in them. Enditem