Tobacco association raises red flag

According to an online publication, Farmers Voices, the tobacco association in its latest report said deforestation was still rampant in tobacco-producing areas.

In Zimbabwe, tobacco is produced in seven regions namely, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Midlands, Masvingo and Matabeleland region, which is slowly venturing into growing of the golden leaf.

“Deforestation levels in tobacco-producing areas continue at alarming levels, with little being done at farmer level to address the problem. 

“The afforestation levy, introduced in 2015, still remains idle as bureaucratic processes hinder its access, while tens of thousands of wooded indigenous hectares each year were destroyed for the curing of tobacco,” the tobacco association was quoted as saying.

The Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe estimates that the country loses about 300 000 hectares of woodlands annually and that 15 percent of this deforestation rate was as a result of tobacco curing. 

Zimbabwe has, since the Land Reform programme embarked on in 2000, registered inordinate number of small-scale and communal tobacco farmers.

The growth has, however, translated to high levels of deforestation, a situation that can reduce some areas into wastelands causing extinction of fauna and flora, changes to climatic conditions, desertification and displacement of populations as observed in current conditions in certain areas and in the past through the fossil record. 

Farmers’ Voices reported that according to experts, a single hectare of smallholder farming produces about 1 400 kilogrammes of tobacco that requires seven tonnes of firewood to cure. 

A total of 184 192 farmers have registered to grow the crop this farming season.

“Punitive measures and enforcement of laws are not being actioned, and if done, very selectively. 

“In some areas, farmers simply do not have the financial resources to destroy their stalks, while others have no intentions of planting another crop,” said the tobacco association. 

Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) spokesperson Mr Isheunesu Moyo, was quoted saying efforts were being made to reduce deforestation by educating farmers on the need to use sustainably produced gumtrees, not indigenous tress. 

“We have also been promoting the use of coal. 

“We have also been educating farmers on the need not to destroy indigenous trees and use sustainably produced gumtrees,” he said. —Farmers’ Voices/Business Chronicle