Story by Owen Mandovha
ZIMBABWE’s tobacco sector has achieved a historic milestone with a record output of 355 million kilograms this year, generating US$1.2 billion in revenue, an achievement attributed to the government’s ongoing empowerment initiatives, which have significantly enhanced local participation in the industry.
At the cocktail dinner held to cap the Zimbabwe-China Tobacco Expo held this Friday, outstanding tobacco farmers were awarded for their stellar performance and contribution to the milestones achieved this year.
Mr Denford Mutwiri of Teryden Farm in Beatrice was recognised for his outstanding production feat in the commercial tobacco production category.
“It was unthinkable in the past that a black farmer could be so successful in becoming the outstanding farmer in the commercial category, hence I am quite excited that after my 24 years of hard work, we have finally been recognised,” he said.
The government’s thrust to enhance value addition is also being sustained courtesy of Swan Valley, which was launched just over a year ago.
“We heeded the government’s call to enhance value addition, increase foreign currency inflows, and create jobs, and just a year after launch, we have become a force to reckon with,” Managing Director, Swan Valley Tobacco, Mr Darlington Tshuma noted.
Women have also emerged as a driving force in tobacco production.
“Women are doing amazing things in the production of tobacco, from providing leadership skills, and we have a big number of women farmers who are producing tobacco,” Former Chairperson, TIMB, Mrs Monica Chinamasa added.
“As a young educated woman, I have found out that tobacco farming is very lucrative, hence I have decided to do it full time, and I do hereby encourage other women to partake in tobacco production,” young tobacco farmer Odripha Zishiri said.
The government has set an ambitious target of 500 million kilograms of tobacco, which aligns with the national vision to create a US$5 billion industry.
