The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter
TRANSPLANTATION of irrigated tobacco for the 2020/21 season started in earnest this week, with some unscrupulous contractors scrambling to ring fence growers for speculative reasons.
Before planting, growers must register or renew their registrations with the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB).
TIMB chief executive officer, Dr Andrew Matibiri confirmed the developments in the sector in a statement released on Monday.
He detailed the new growers’ contracting procedures for the 2020/21 production and marketing season.
Dr Matibiri said tobacco growers are mandated to sign new contracts every season as these automatically expire at the end of each marketing season.
He said at their board meeting on August 25, 2020, TIMB imposed a new registration barometer to save the sector from total collapse.
“Due to the increased number of contractors, there has been heightened competition for growers. Resultantly, there has been a scramble by contractors to ring fence or to secure growers for speculative reasons by rushing to submit long lists of growers to be contracted in the TIMB system without having shown enough proof that the growers will be fully supported.
“A number of companies have already submitted triple the number of growers they contracted last season and included growers that had been contracted by other contractors in the previous season. This invariably creates an unpredictable environment for genuine investors, which will lead to reduced investment and collapse of the tobacco industry,” said Dr Matibiri.
“Growers previously contracted to a company who sign or renew contracts for the coming season with the same company are contracted in the TIMB system without further requiring scrutiny or clarity.
“Independent growers, who were previously not contracted in the prior year and have signed contracts are also contracted in the TIMB system without further requiring scrutiny or clarity.
“But growers previously contracted by a different contractor will require to be released by the previous contractor before being contracted to the new company. Lists of these growers will be sent to the previous contractor for confirmation. Alternatively, growers can apply to TIMB expressing their intention to join a new scheme, subject to confirmation by the previous contractor,” said Dr Matibiri.
Farmers who spoke to The Manica Post confirmed that transplantation of seedlings from nurseries to the fields began on September 1, which is the regulated date for the process.
The seedlings must be between three to six inches high and about 40 to 50 days old. The process is a delicate one as the seedlings are vulnerable to climate variations, diseases and parasites.
Tobacco Association of Zimbabwe vice-president Mr David Guy Mutasa said their members across the country are busy in the fields, while those who do the dryland crop are still managing their seedbeds and nurseries.
“The tobacco cycle begins in June with farmers preparing their nurseries to plant the irrigated crop on September 1. That crop should be ready for harvesting at the end of November or early December. Our members are planting and the process is going on smoothly,” said Mr Mutasa.
Mr Mutasa is targeting 30 hectares of irrigated tobacco.
Another farmer, Mr Fungai Makoni, said he started planting on Tuesday.
“We are busy planting the irrigated crop,” said Mr Makoni.
