The ManicaPost
Kudakwashe Chidziya Manicaland Correspondent
Traditional leaders in Manicaland have raised concern over the high level of deforestation in the province which is being perpetuated by tobacco farmers as they seek energy sources to cure their crop.
The leaders fear that if the rate of deforestation is not curbed, it will have a negative impact on the area leaving it bare and vulnerable to harsh weather conditions
Speaking at a tobacco field day in Burma Valley last week, Ward 7 village head Mr Henry Kaswa urged tobacco farmers to safeguard forests and use environment friendly energy sources.
“Look at this place, it was not like this before, it was full of trees and we used to herd cattle in this area when it was like a jungle, this dense area was scary.
“Now it is bare like this, indigenous trees are now scarce.
“The trees are being cut down for tobacco curing.
“It’s sad, we are losing forests to tobacco farmers,” Mr Kaswa said.
Many tobacco farmers depend on fire-wood to cure their tobacco which has resulted in mass tree cutting in the province.
Mr Kaswa said the Environmental Management Agency had over the past years initiated the use of alternative energy sources like coal which has not been taken up by farmers since they claim it is too expensive for them.
“I also want to urge local tobacco farmers in my area to embrace initiatives from EMA to use other sources of power so that we do not lose our forests,” Kaswa added.
