Prosper Ndlovu Business Editor
THE government has pledged to establish a tobacco auction floor in Matabeleland in a move set to boost production of the golden leaf in the region and increase national gains from the crop. Most farmers from the region have been shunning tobacco production citing bottlenecks such as transporting their produce to the auction floors in Harare.
The few who have ventured into producing the crop have also complained that while there was potential for improved output, the absence of local auction floors was discouraging as many farmers have no means of taking it to the capital for sale.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made at the weekend said there was a need for farmers to double their production to enhance beneficiation.
“Strengthening of horticultural production is critical and we are happy Matabeleland has started growing tobacco.
“We’re negotiating a special dispensation with China to manufacture cigarettes and that means we must increase tobacco production,” said the minister.
“This region does produce critical tobacco. We must therefore open an auction floor in this part of the region.”
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, a successful tobacco farmer in Umguza district, hailed the proposal.
“This is a welcome initiative. In fact it is the logical thing to do.
“This will result in an increase in people growing tobacco. Farmers want to sell their produce locally to cut costs,” he said.
“This will encourage more players to come on board if they are assured of the market. It has been proven that Matabeleland can be a major producer of tobacco and last season we had a good crop and our customers encouraged us to increase hectarage.”
Dr Mpofu said increased tobacco production in the region would require establishment of cigarettes firms in Bulawayo in line with the value addition and beneficiation thrust.
He said his Industry and Commerce counterpart Mike Bimha had already tabled the tobacco beneficiation proposal that had received Cabinet endorsement.
Zimbabwe is targeting pole position in tobacco production and already 67,000 farmers have registered their participation in tobacco production for the coming season although few come from Matabeleland.
At present tobacco is the second largest foreign currency earner after mining with latest figures indicating the country exported 50,6 million kilogrammes worth $231,5 million.
Tobacco prices were pegged at $3,17 per kilogramme in the just ended marketing season, the second highest in the world among countries that produce the cash crop.
With the projected weather report for the 2014/15 season out, Dr Made urged farmers to plant early and maximize yields to meet food security targets.
“Regarding the coming season we will advise of what we’re doing for farmers at the appropriate time. The weather report is out and indications are that we will have normal to above normal first half season rains,” he added. “The southern parts of the country will have normal to below normal rains and that means we must go to the field very early, possibly with the first rains.”
The minister also implored farmers to take precautionary measures to preserve their livestock in anticipation of dry moments along the season.