Source: Zim breaks new ground . . . Harvests tobacco in non-traditional growing areas – herald
Raymond Jaravaza-Bulawayo Bureau
A RENEWED push to expand tobacco growing beyond the traditional northern and eastern regions of the country under the Second Republic is bearing fruit as witnessed by increased production in Matabeleland this season.
The commissioning of a US$100 million tobacco processing plant by President Mnangagwa in Harare last year and other Government-led initiatives have spurred expansion of tobacco farming in non-traditional growing areas, putting Zimbabwe firmly on a path to another record tobacco production year.
Tobacco growing is now making a sizeable footprint in areas like Matabeleland South, Midlands, Matabeleland North, Gokwe North and Gokwe South.
There is promising growth and successful tobacco cultivation in places like Marula, Mangwe District, and others, something that will see a major push toward increased production and record-breaking performance levels in 2026.
Already, tobacco harvesting is in full swing across Matabeleland, with 325 growers — both established and first-time farmers — delivering the golden leaf to auction and contract floors as the country looks forward to another strong season for its leading cash crop.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) says the growers are producing Naturally Cured Virginia (NCV) tobacco on 370 hectares in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, reflecting growing uptake of the crop in a region traditionally associated with cattle ranching and small grains production.
Zimbabwe produced 354,9 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth US$1,2 billion last year, maintaining its position as Africa’s largest producer and the world’s second-largest exporter of flue-cured Virginia tobacco after Brazil.
The Government is also intensifying tobacco processing and value addition under the Second Republic, with plans to establish more local processing plants to maximise export earnings from finished products rather than raw leaf.
Commissioning a US$100 million tobacco processing plant in Harare last year, President Mnangagwa said the industry now sustains more than 160 000 households nationwide.
“As a result, Zimbabwe now ranks sixth globally in tobacco production. Over and above these milestones, the industry sustains more than 160 000 households, empowering rural communities and uplifting the livelihoods of many across the nation,” he said.
The President urged stakeholders to continue investing in value addition, beneficiation and climate-smart farming.
“I call upon stakeholders to continue investing in value addition and beneficiation, while also promoting sustainable and climate-smart farming, as well as developing innovative local financing mechanisms,” he said.
According to TIMB, Zimbabwe earned US$489 million in the first quarter from exports of 71 million kilogrammes of semi-processed tobacco, compared to 43,2 million kilogrammes worth US$293 million during the same period last year.
The Far East remains the major export destination, with markets including China, Japan and Indonesia importing 44,5 million kilogrammes worth US$378 million.
TIMB said tobacco production in Matabeleland is largely under contract farming, with growers selling through a licenced contract floor in Mangwe.
NCV tobacco, which is gaining popularity in the region, uses sunshades and drying racks instead of firewood or coal, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fire-cured tobacco.
When tobacco growing was introduced to Marula villagers in the 2023/24, only 17 communal farmers heeded the call to switch from traditional small grains and maize to commercial tobacco farming and that figure has now ballooned to more than 320 farmers, according to figures released by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board.
TIMB said a total of 325 growers are doing 370 hectares of NCV tobacco in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces.
At a national level, as of March 31, a total of 3 445 300 kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold at auction floors.
“Currently, tobacco production in the Matabeleland region is largely under contract farming with growers selling through a licenced contract floor in Mangwe (Matabeleland South Province),” said TIMB.
The organisation said action floors are designed for self-financed growers and at present, the number of such growers in Matabeleland is still low thus making a dedicated auction floor not yet viable.
“Once the number of independent growers increases and a formal application for an auction floor license is submitted, the Board will consider and facilitate the licensing accordingly,” said TIMB.
At Mswelangubo Farm in Nyamandlovu, farm manager, Mr Peter Musapurwa said the farm harvested its first NCV crop from one-and-a-half hectares.
“As a trial run, we decided to plant 25 000 plants on one and a half hectares and we managed to produce a good quality crop despite the above normal rainfall that Nyamandlovu received this year. Some parts of the tobacco field were waterlogged, thus affecting a few thousand plants, but we still managed to harvest a good crop,” he said.
Mswelangubo Farm seeks to upscale NCV tobacco production next season.
“We are looking at utilising five hectares of land for tobacco farming next year. This year’s harvest will be collected by the contractor that we worked with as soon as the tobacco has dried to a satisfactory level,” said Musapurwa.
“The good thing about NVC tobacco farming is that we don’t have to cut down trees or burn coal from Hwange to cure the tobacco, thus we conserve the environment while embarking on a project that is commercially viable.”
In Umguza, first-time grower, Mr Pius Ngwenya said he produced 1 100 kilogrammes sold at US$3,70 per kilogramme.
“Tobacco farming is labour intensive but is worth all the hard work compared to maize that I have been growing all these years. When the community heard that I had ventured into tobacco farming, they were concerned that I would chop down trees to cure it but the only few trees that I did cut down were for the construction of a barn and drying rack,” he said.
“The barn and dying rack are structures that I will use for many more years to come as long I grow the tobacco and I will not a have a reason to cut down trees in future.”
At Khami Prison Farm on the outskirts of Bulawayo, a five-hectare tobacco project run by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) is expected to yield about 3 000 kilogrammes per hectare.
The initiative is being implemented with technical support from ATLAS AGRI, led by tobacco specialist, Mr Rodrick Musiiwa.
ZPCS Officer Commanding Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Commissioner Mkhulunyelwa Ngwenya said inmates involved in the project are receiving practical agricultural training and will be paid for their labour.
“The inmates that we call trainee farmers who are part of the project will be paid and that money will be sent to their families to assist with their upkeep. The tobacco project is part of our broader rehabilitation programme that aims to empower inmates with skills that will assist them to be active participants in our economy when they are released,” he said.
Comm Ngwenya said proceeds from the project will contribute to national development in line with Vision 2030.
“From this project, the prison will generate money that will be sent to the national fiscus to assist in the development of the country for the attainment of Vision 2030, as led by President Mnangagwa,” he said.
Comm Ngwenya said together with their partners ATLAS AGRI, they intended to expand the project and utilise more land.
“This will mean that more trainee farmers who are the inmates will be attached to be part of the tobacco farming project. The trainee farmers have contracts with ZPCS and they will be paid after the crop has been harvested,” he said.
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