Preparing tobacco seed beds while there are tobacco stalks in one’s field or in a neighbour’s field is preparing to fail. The Plant Pests and Diseases Act [Chapter 19:08] requires that all tobacco stalks be destroyed by May 15, of every year, not for the fun of it, but to help in reducing carryover of diseases and pests.If farmers do not adhere to this Act, the result is not only that they will use more chemicals which is an added expence, but the quality of tobacco may also be compromised to an extent, as a result of diseases and pests which could have been dealt with simply by destroying the tobacco stalks.
Stalks act as hosts for diseases and pests and what destroying them does, is starve the pests.
Last season there were reports of red spider mite in some areas.
Red spider mite thrives even in hardy conditions if they have a host in terms of tobacco stalks.
If tobacco stalks are not destroyed they will affect yield, quality as well as increase farmers input costs.
Tobacco growers who have not yet destroyed their tobacco stalks should be reported to Department of Research and Specialist Services (Plant Quarantine Services Institute, PQSI), AGRITEX, Tobacco Research Board (TRB) or Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).
Whilst it is not the punitive action we are interested in as an Industry, first time offenders will be fined an amount not exceeding one hundred dollars for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
For a second or subsequent conviction, offender will be fined a sum not exceeding $200 for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Reports can be made to all PQSI offices or at TIMB regional offices located in Bindura, Mvurwi, Chinhoyi, Karoi, Marondera and Rusape.
Preparing seedbeds whilst tobacco stalks are still in the field is going one foot forward and two backwards.
Destroying tobacco stalks is not a half-hearted act as it entails uprooting the whole plant and not simply removing what law enforcers and neighbours can see from a distance, as nematodes can be hosted by stumps and roots of the stalk.
The 2015/2016 season although characterised by the El Nino weather phenomena, saw farmers present to the market 185 million kilogrammes of tobacco and earning over $544 million at an average price of $2,94 after 81 days of marketing.
During the same period last season, farmers have pocketed $518 million from the sale of 176 million kilogrammes.
Bale rejection rate is lower by 8,89 percent and this is a sign of improving agronomic practices and adjusting to the climate change.
If there is an increase in cost of production as well as a decrease in yield per hectare as a result of carryover diseases, tobacco farming will become less and less viable for the farmers.
If the quality of Zimbabwe’s sought after flue cured Virginia tobacco is compromised because farmers fail to destroy stalks, the most basic of processes in tobacco production, we will chase away our valued buyers to other nations.
As a result, Zimbabwe will fail to maintain its position of having the second best average price for flue cured Virginia tobacco after the United States of America.
When the tobacco leaf is finally cured, the whole process, which is what the leaf went through from the seedbed right through to curing, including failure to destroy tobacco stalks becomes evident on the cured leaf and is subsequently reflected on the sales sheets.
Continuing to bring produce to the market, preparing seedbeds among other preparations for the 2016/2017 tobacco season is no reason for one not to destroy stalks in their fields.
For additional Information contact
◆ TIMB 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]