‘Destroy tobacco stalks’

Tobacco farmers in Mashonaland West Province have been urged to destroy tobacco stalks in their fields before the stipulated dates to prevent establishment and spread of diseases and pests.

Tobacco stalks have to be destroyed by May 15 of each year.

In an interview recently, Mashonaland West crop production specialist Mr Phillip Musona said many farmers were not considering the importance of stalk destruction.

“Many tobacco farmers fail to destroy the stalks on time and they are ignorant on the importance of stalk destruction at the required time,” he said.

“Awareness campaigns are needed so that farmers take it seriously and also know that there is a legislation — The Plants Pests and Disease Act (Chapter19:08) — which needs to be adhered to.”

Mr Musona said there were some cases where farmers planted their crops late and failed to meet the deadline for destroying stalks because their crop would not be ready.

He encouraged farmers to start preparing land for the forthcoming season, while taking advantage of the rains falling in some parts of the country.

“We are encouraging farmers to continue preparing land for the next season, especially taking advantage of the rains which have been received recently,” said Mr Musona.

Preparing agricultural land early is good for plants.

“Crops which perform better are those planted on land that has been prepared early since there is conservation of moisture for early plants, hence better quality and more profit,” said Mr Musona.

“It also reduces costs and labour compared to land prepared during the farming season.

“Early land preparation also controls pests by creating a long dead period and increases humus or nutrition status when ploughed under residues eventually decomposes.”

Land prepared during the farming season, Mr Musona said, may suffer from moisture stress.