The ManicaPost
Wimbainashe Zhakata Farming Correspondent
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has commended the quality of tobacco produced this season, attributing its eminence to the rains and good agronomic practices.
TIMB chief executive officer Mr Andrew Matibiri said the good rains, coupled with good farming methods, promoted the production of good quality tobacco.
“Quality-wise, the 2020 flue-cured tobacco deliveries will be far better than last season. This was largely because of the good weather conditions, precisely the good rains,” said Dr Matibiri.
Research has shown that both under-watering and over-watering can significantly reduce both tobacco yield and quality. Therefore it is important to supply adequate water quantities at the proper times.
Tobacco is generally considered a drought-tolerant plant that produces better yields under desirable soil moisture.
Mr Matibiri said most small-scale tobacco growers are still reaping the dryland leaf crop.
“Most tobacco growers are still reaping.
The dryland crop is now fully grown and thanks to the prevailing weather conditions, the cured leaf is of high quality.
“As farmers cure and prepare to grade and market their crop, they should ensure that the grading sheds are clean and free of old tobacco scraps so that the new leaf is not infested with post- harvest pests like tobacco beetle and tobacco moth,” said Mr Matibiri.
According to Agritex, the bulk of Manicaland’s irrigated tobacco has been harvested.
Agritex tobacco specialist Mr Douglas Nzarayebani said the cured leaf is now under conditioning.
“Most of the irrigated tobacco has been harvested and the curing process is done. Most of it is now under conditioning so that it becomes easy to handle during grading,” he said.
Mr Nzarayebani said Manicaland is one of the farming communities that produce quality leaf in the country.
Mr Matibiri said the 2020 marketing season is expected to progress smoothly.
“Discussions between the monetary authorities, farmers’ unions and associations are continuing and there is no reason to believe that there will be disagreements on 2020’s payment modalities,” he said.
However, he could reveal when the tobacco marketing season will commence.
