Story by Tendai Munengwa
ZIMBABWE will ban the use of firewood for tobacco curing by 2029 in a policy shift aimed at curbing deforestation and promoting more sustainable production of the country’s leading export crop.
The announcement was made at the inaugural Joint Forest Indaba on sustainable forest and tobacco production held in Harare, where policymakers, farmers and industry stakeholders examined the environmental impact of large-scale tobacco curing.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, said the transition was necessary to safeguard forest resources while sustaining growth in tobacco output.
“This inaugural joint forest indaba is critical for the sustainability of our tobacco production and survival of our farmers. Tobacco production is expected to hit 500 million kilogrammes by 2028, and, as our key export crop, we need to grow it in a sustainable manner. The issue of deforestation is a reality, and I encourage farmers and stakeholders to be innovative. Come up with afforestation strategies but above all, my ministry will cease the use of firewood for tobacco curing by 2029, so the time is now for the industry to adjust,” Dr Masuka said.
Zimbabwe loses more than 260 000 hectares of forests annually, with tobacco curing estimated to account for between 15 and 20 percent of that loss. The figures have intensified calls for alternative energy sources and structured afforestation programmes within the tobacco value chain.
Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, said policy alignment would be central to balancing environmental conservation and economic growth.
“The indaba comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s tobacco is rated among the best on international markets, and also when the World Health Organisation is advocating for the ban of tobacco. However, the crop is a lifeline for our farmers and the country at large, so we intend to craft stringent measures to deal with deforestation. We expect this inaugural forest indaba will see stakeholders drafting a plan of action to ensure sustainable production of tobacco,” she said.
Under the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan (Phase Two) draft, Government is targeting a US$7 billion tobacco industry by 2030, anchored on increased production, beneficiation and expanded export markets.
This season, farmers are projected to deliver more than 400 million kilogrammes of tobacco, up from just over 350 million kilogrammes sold last year. Production is expected to reach 500 million kilogrammes by 2028 if current growth trends continue.
The policy shift comes amid growing demand from international buyers, including China, Zimbabwe’s largest tobacco importer, while the country now exports to more than 60 markets worldwide.
Officials say the 2029 deadline provides a transition window for the industry to invest in alternative curing technologies, expand woodlots and strengthen afforestation initiatives in order to safeguard long-term sustainability.
