Strict measures needed to protect tobacco exports

Government should introduce stiff penalties for tobacco growers who are non-compliant to set rules and regulations if it is to stop the spread of diseases that could potentially affect the country’s tobacco exports.

This was revealed at a workshop held by the Tobacco Research Board yesterday which was running under the theme, “Tobacco Production: An industry under threat”.

Tobacco is the country’s highest foreign currency earner followed by gold. Last year tobacco exports topped $900 million, which was a marginal decrease from $933 million from the previous season. Across the country, the area put under tobacco has slightly decreased from 110 518 hectares last year to 104 397 hectares.

However, there have been recent reports of the outbreak of Potato virus Y (PVY) disease which could potentially lead to a 100 percent loss of crop. Traces of agro-chemical residue in the country’s exported tobacco have also been reported.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Chief Air Marshal (Retired) Perrance Shiri, Permanent secretary in the ministry Ringson Chitsiko said there had reports of tracings of agro-chemical residues which could potentially have consequences on the country`s export status

“I am concerned to learn that residues of some chemicals which are no longer acceptable for use in tobacco and some not even used in tobacco such as DDT are being detected from the cured leaf. Once the crop has been exported, the presence of these agro-chemical residues is a clear indication that again rules are being flunked.

“As tobacco industry we need to ensure that random tests are carried out on export tobacco in order to ensure that undesirable residues are not detected elsewhere which not only tarnishes our image but risks losing millions of tobacco earnings for country,” said Mr Chitsiko.

He also highlighted that stalks around the fields should be cleared early to prevent the spread of the PVY disease which could possibly have a 100 percent yield loss.

“The perennial failure to adhere to legislated tobacco plating and stalk destruction dates led to massive outbreak of the PVY across the country this past season and given the importance of tobacco to Zimbabwe this should be alarming and terrifying to all given the consequences.

“This is not the first time such an occurrence has been reported in Zimbabwe as in the 1960s aphid transmitted viruses overwhelmed the Zimbabwean crop in the northern tobacco growing areas with yield areas as high as 100 percent being recorded especially for late tobacco growers and at the time these diseases were dubbed the single greatest challenge to tobacco production in Zimbabwe. It is unacceptable that we find ourselves faced by a similar threat,” he said.

Also speaking at the occasion Agritex officer Kennedy Mapezha said given the rise of registered tobacco growers for this season the country has to consider introducing stringent measures to counter the spread of deadly crop diseases such as PVY.

“The area which is grown under tobacco has increased significantly. In the current season the number of growers has increased to 124 000 who have registered from 84 000 growers who had registered last season. The increased number of farmers which translate to increased area simply means that the disease can easily spread,“ said Mr Kapezha.