Story by Tendai Munengwa
HARVESTING of early-planted irrigated tobacco has begun, while planting of the rain-fed crop is now fully underway as Zimbabwe gears up for what is expected to be another promising tobacco season.
For smallholder farmer, Simbarashe Ngarande, the progress in his fields reflects years of experience and improved skills in producing the golden leaf.
Ngarande has joined hands with other farmers to contribute to national development in a small but productive way.
“While irrigated tobacco was a preserve for commercial farmers, I have mastered the game from our mentor Cde Makina. I have planted five hectares of the golden leaf under irrigation and we are now harvesting and curing the leaf. Our President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, recently commissioned a value chain plant so we are now producing to contribute to the value addition chain,” he said.
From the fields, the leaf is delivered to the barns, where curing takes place.
“We are happy to be part of this project. I urge small-scale farmers to try irrigated crops, they have many advantages in terms of quality, which attract good prices,” farm manager, Wellington Nyamavhiyo said.
For the workforce at farms, harvesting of irrigated tobacco comes with early cash for Christmas.
“We are excited that we planted early and we are harvesting early, we are getting cash to buy Christmas festivities for our children,” a farm worker said.
“I am earning a living here, I use the money I get here to send my kid to school and buy Christmas goodies for my family,” a parent said.
Since the inception of the Land Reform Programme, tobacco production has been on an upward trend with farmers hitting a new record of 355 million kilogrammes during the past season, and prospects are bright that farmers can achieve the newly set target of 500 million kilogrammes by 2028.
