Tobacco farmers are encouraged to minimise continuous handling of the leaf as this compromises quality and can introduce blemish to the leaf. Fortunately for now, all tobacco produced in Zimbabwe has found a market and this is not to say it had undesirable style and extra factors although some did.Unlike other crops in which if you get it right in the field, you are spot on, with tobacco, after producing good quality leaf, a farmer can get it all wrong in subsequent processes such as curing, baling and transportation of the product.
There are five aspects that determine the value of tobacco, namely plant position, quality of leaf, colour, style factors and the extra factors.
Tobacco that does not contain style and extra factors is referred to as standard tobacco.
Style factor describes textural differences and related degrees of maturity due to weather effects and agronomic cultural practices while extra factors come about largely as a result of certain effects of weather and curing.
Whilst some style factors are desirable such as Ripe/Soft (F) and other extra factors are acceptable for instance Spotted (A) and to some extend the Greenish (V), the majority are unwanted.
Ripe / Soft (F) is fully coloured, open — grained, ripe and soft while Spotted (A)are small brownish blotches with an off-white centre which occurs on the leaf and is normally associated with tobacco grown in fast ripening areas.
Greenish (V) is tobacco which has a greenish tinge or cast to it which is normally referred to as running green and is tolerated as the green cast may disappear after further maturity.
Style factors denoted by (K) and (U) as well as extra factors symbolised by (Q), (G) and (D) are however, undesirable and reduce the commercial value of the tobacco leaf.
(K) is slatey grey tobacco with a smooth to flat surface and a relatively pale or dull colour, close grained, immature tobacco with dead cells that are of no use and is denoted by (U) when it is excessive.
Scorched (Q) is a result of an increase in barn temperatures before excess moisture is removed from the leaf resulting in a noticeable degree of redness and undesirable aroma which is a compromise on the smoking quality of the tobacco leaf.
Neither is the market interested in set green tobacco which is denoted by (G) nor green sticky prematurely harvested tobacco with poor chemical composition nor in harsh natured and lifeless leaf which lacks oil as a result of dry weather conditions denoted by sun baked (D).
The market desires and pays more for well matured ripe leaves with a velvety feel.
Whilst a bad leaf produced on the field cannot be improved by curing; a good leaf can be spoiled by bad curing or unnecessary handling.
Tobacco farmers are encouraged to minimise continuous handling of the leaf as this compromises quality and can introduce blemish to the leaf.
Fortunately for now, all tobacco produced in Zimbabwe has found market and this is not to say it had undesirable style and extra factors although some did.
171 million kilogrammes of flue cured Virginia tobacco has been sold so far this year up from 162 million kilogrammes by the same time last season, surpassing our initial projection of 160 million kilogrammes. Farmers have pocketed $503 million at an average price of $2,94.
The average price on day 71 of the marketing season is $3,17 per kg compared to $3,10 on the same day last season which goes on to show buyers interest to buy at good prices even as the season has advanced.
Bale rejection rate has gone down by nine percent and the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board encourages farmers to continue to improve on their agronomic practices and to eliminate undesirable style factors, extra factors and blemish in order to increase on their profits.
For additional Information contact TIMB at429 Gleneagles Road, Southerton, Harare or write to us on P.O. Box 10214, Harare or on telephone numbers 0772145166/9 or 0279-22082 /21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268/ 29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free Number 0731999999 or E-mail: [email protected]