More register to grow golden leaf

MASHONALAND West Province has recorded an eight percent increase in new tobacco growers registered with the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board for the 2018-19 season.

According to the latest statistics released by the TIMB, the number of new tobacco farmers who have so far registered to grow tobacco has risen to 8 688 from the 8 081 recorded during the same period last year.

Of the 8 688 newly registered tobacco farmers, 7 932 are from communal farmers while a further 616 are from the A1 resettlement area model.

The newly registered tobacco farmers are 76 and 64 from A2 and small-scale farming areas, respectively,

The latest figures also indicate that Mashonaland West had recorded a 48 percent increase of tobacco farmers reaching a whopping 41 496 this season as compared to 28 121 recorded during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, TIMB statistics also showed that communal farmers are dominating the sector with a total of 27 077 as compared to other groups of farmers.

“There are 27 077 farmers who are communal farmers, A1 farmers are 10 628 while A2 farmers are 2 168 and the least number of 1 623 are small-scale farmers.”

The increase in registrations has largely been influenced by the need for farmers to obtain individual growers’ numbers so that they benefit from the introduction of foreign currency incentives.

In 2016, tobacco farmers were awarded an export incentive which rewards the growers for generating foreign currency through exporting goods and services by the Government.

The farmers received a 12,5 percent bonus on the foreign currency generated.

However, the use of plastic money has also made it difficult for the farmers to share their money after selling as they are no longer paid in cash.

The money is now being deposited in bank accounts or paid through mobile money transfers.