Story by Tendai Munengwa
GOVERNMENT has unveiled the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan Two (TVCTP 2), a new policy blueprint aimed at transforming Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry into a US$7 billion sector by 2030.
The draft plan is now being presented to stakeholders for validation.
Representatives of farmers, Government and tobacco researchers met in Harare on Thursday to deliberate on key interventions under the new framework, which is anchored on seven strategic pillars focusing on sustainability, value addition and localisation of funding.
Representing the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Chief Director for Research Dumisani Kutywayo said the document was the product of extensive consultations.
“TVCTP 2 is a product of extensive consultations involving farmers, TIMB, Government and tobacco researchers to ensure we achieve a US$7 billion industry by 2030. The draft document is now being subjected to stakeholders for validation,” he said.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board Chief Operations Officer Blessing Dhokotera said sustainability remains central to the plan.
“As TIMB, we are advocating for a sector that produces tobacco sustainably, eliminating child labour, reducing deforestation, ensuring fair pricing for farmers and promoting reasonable wages for farm workers,” he said.
Production of the golden leaf continues to rise, with farmers delivering more than 350 million kilogrammes last year. Farmer organisations have welcomed the new policy framework.
Farmer representative Mutandwa Mutasa called for greater participation in value addition.
“We believe farmers should be included in the value addition chain so that we realise the full value of our tobacco. The document should provide mechanisms to ensure that happens,” he said.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association president George Seremwa urged farmers to improve productivity.
“As we move towards the US$500 million mark, farmers must maximise production and improve yields per hectare. Where a farmer was producing 1 000 kilogrammes per hectare, that output should be doubled to enhance profitability. Under the first Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, Government introduced value addition and beneficiation to unlock more foreign currency and localise tobacco funding to support farmers,” he said.
Zimbabwe remains Africa’s largest tobacco producer and is ranked fourth globally, a position authorities say reflects the impact of agricultural policies aimed at strengthening the sector.
