NEW: Tobacco Research Board restructures

 

Post Reporter

 

THE Tobacco Research Board (TRB) is restructuring and repositioning itself to effectively respond to the parastatal’s changing operating environment and broadened scope of activities as well as improve in delivering on Government expectations.

 

TRB’s rebranding is in line with enhancing its contribution towards National Development Strategy (NDS1) and the attainment of Vision 2030 as part of an inclusive agricultural transformation aimed at achieving the targeted outcomes of import substitution, diversified exports, enhanced value addition and employment creation, among others.

 

TRB is rebranding to Kutsaga.

 

Speaking during the launch ceremony in Harare today, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, who was the guest of honour, said the restructuring aimed to transform the parastatal into the epicentre for national research, development and innovation on tobacco.

 

“The TRB has reformed and restructured to Kutsaga through the implementation of several interventions, the majority of which have been implemented. The institution is already running with this broad mandate and has since commenced research on alternates and alternative crops to tobacco, a strategy that will enable tobacco growers to start intruding into other enterprises alternate to tobacco growing to counter World Health Organisation (WHO Framework of Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) efforts,” said Minister Masuka.

 

Minister Masuka said expanded research, development, technology and innovations are key in accelerating sustainable and environmentally sound agricultural production practices.

 

Speaking at the same event, TRB board chairman Mr Stanley Mutepfa, who was represented by his deputy Professor Florence Mtambanengwe, said Kutsaga will continue to develop and avail innovative products and services basing on broad creativity-based and science-managed key result areas.

 

In his remarks, TRB chief executive Dr Frank Magama said the transformed institution will be better positioned to deliver on its primary mandate of conducting tobacco research and secondary mandates to deliver value to stakeholders.

 

He said the parastatal’s vision is driven by innovation to become the premier agricultural research institution in the country and beyond.

 

Zimbabwe this year recorded the highest tobacco production in its history as sales for the ongoing 2023 marketing season currently stand at 275 million kg, surpassing the previous record of 259 kg in 2019.

 

The country has set sights on a target of 300 million kg sales in 2025.