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From Noah Pito in Hurungwe
Hurungwe Rural District Council says its ban on use of firewood by tobacco farmers when curing their crop has been a success as evidenced by the large volumes of coal purchases being made and the simultaneous decline in illegal cutting of trees.
In an interview last week, HRDC chief executive officer Mr Joram Moyo said the success of the ban was attributable to several players, particularly Hwange Colliery.
The council and Hwange have an agreement where the former buys coal on behalf of farmers and then sells it on to them.
The farmers have up to 60 days to pay for the coal they take delivery of.
Mr Moyo said, “This arrangement has made it very easy for council to stockpile the commodity for farmers who now can come at their convenience to purchase any quantities that match their purses.
“Previously farmers had to pay first before deliveries were made from Hwange.”
Mr Moyo said tobacco contracting companies were also helping farmers buy coal.
“Of course we have few isolated cases of insolent commercial farmers who only comply after paying heavy fines.
“There is one farmer in the Vuti area who was found with several stacks of firewood a few weeks ago.
“He was fined more than a thousand dollars and has since turned to using coal.
“We also have a few farmers in the Tengwe area whom we also fined heavily.
“In the Mazhaka area in Tengwe, there are some notorious individuals who are known for surviving on selling firewood.”
Mr Moyo said they had intensified their awareness campaigns to make people aware of the environmental harm that comes from wanton destruction of woodlands.
They have also been in informing people that coal works better — and is cheaper and easier to use — than firewood for curing tobacco.
Farmers are buying coal at three centres: Tengwe (US$220), Magunje (US$200) and Karoi ($195).
The price goes up as one moves further away from Hwange.