Zim tobacco output impressive

Hamond Motsi

THE 2023/2024 tobacco marketing season officially closed on August 28.

Output for the season reached about 230 million kg, which raked in US$798 million, at an average price of US$3,45 per kg.

The average price for the year increased by around US$0,40 from the previous year’s average of US$3,03 per kg. This impressive performance by the sector was achieved in spite of the deleterious effects of a drought-ravaged cropping season.

The 2023/2024 summer cropping season was affected by an El Niño-induced drought, which affected the entire Southern Africa region. Consequently, several countries in the region declared the drought a state of disaster.

Some cash crops were significantly affected by drought, specifically maize. Maize is a regional staple and the most widely cultivated crop.

In Zimbabwe, reports indicate that the maize harvest failed to reach a million tonnes, against a national annual requirement of up to 2,5 million tonnes. While last season’s tobacco production figure was noteworthy, it represented a decrease from the previous season’s total of 290 million, which was a record-breaking haul in the country’s tobacco production history.

What was particularly impressive about the current output was the fact that smallholder farmers produced the bulk of the golden leaf, at approximately 143 million kg. This was nearly double the 72 million kg produced by commercial farmers.

This significant contribution by smallholder growers should not be taken lightly given that this group of farmers now forms the backbone of the country’s agriculture sector.

Nonetheless, smallholder farmers are typically categorised as the most vulnerable to climate change in the sector. However, in Zimbabwe, smallholder tobacco farmers have demonstrated remarkable resilience.

This achievement can be attributed to the Tobacco Research Board (now Kutsaga), which is a Government research wing mandated with conducting, developing and controlling research on tobacco in Zimbabwe.

The success of this sector is partly a result of Kutsaga’s ability to develop and provide suitable varieties and agronomical services that meet the environmental and economic requirements of optimising tobacco production.

Another contributing factor to the resilience is the role of private companies (contractors).

Tobacco production is an input-intensive endeavour, requiring significant investment in seed and fertilisers, as well as pest and disease control chemicals. Acquiring these inputs is an increasingly challenging task for growers, particularly smallholder farmers.

This is where contracting companies are playing a crucial role in supporting smallholder farmers, ensuring their resilience and sustenance. Additional factors such as improvement in farmers’ skills and technical knowledge, an increasing mass of young people going into farming, readily available markets and attractive prices, often in United States dollars, have influenced resilience and increased output.

While these milestones mark a positive step forward for the agriculture sector, there remains scope for further development, particularly in guaranteeing and sustaining both the economic and environmental integrity, and also assurance of resilience to future climate change shocks.

Here is how:

 Addressing price disparities

Smallholder farmers frequently express concern over price disparities, wherein commercial or white farmers generally benefit from higher prices for their crop as a result of the ill-conceived perception that their tobacco is inherently of superior quality compared to that produced by smallholder growers.

For example, the average price for smallholder farmers was US$3,13, which was US$0,88 less than that of commercial farmers at US$4,01. This discrepancy inexorably affects the group responsible for producing more than two-thirds of the country’s golden leaf.

There is need to address this anomaly to attain price equilibrium, where both parties’ interests are balanced.

Inputs distribution

A significant challenge faced by smallholder tobacco farmers is in the form of delays in the distribution of inputs. Farmers report that inputs, particularly fertilisers and chemicals for pest and disease control, arrive late in the season. However, contracting companies deny this claim, saying farmers sell inputs for personal use if they are distributed early. There is need for dialogue and intervention from the governing bodies to ensure a proper and functioning system.

Ecological concerns

Small-scale farmers typically depend on wood as fuel for curing their crop. This practice has resulted in extensive deforestation, which affects various indigenous tree species that do not regenerate easily.

While coal is recommended for curing tobacco, it remains expensive for small-scale farmers and faces opposition from climate change advocates. Additionally, Zimbabwe is on the frontline in advocating climate change mitigation, and the tobacco sector might be undermining its efforts. Given the country’s priority of empowering locals, this trend is concerning. Participation by local companies would be beneficial for the country’s overall socio-economic development.

Value addition

Figures show that approximately two percent of the tobacco produced in Zimbabwe remains in the country. The remainder is exported in raw form. There is need to enhance value addition of tobacco through processing to increase its contribution to the growth of the economy. Government should address this matter with due consideration to maximise economic benefits from this valuable crop.

Investing in rural infrastructure development

This is essential for maximising tobacco production by enhancing productivity and market access for farmers. Improvements in rural roads and bridges are necessary to facilitate the transportation of products to markets, thereby reducing transport costs and losses.

Given the impact of drought as a consequence of climate change, it is crucial to build dams and improve water storage systems for irrigation, particularly smart irrigation systems. Digital platforms can provide farmers with tailored information for best and timely management practices. It is evident that the previous season’s El Niño-induced drought presented significant challenges to Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector.

However, the tobacco industry demonstrated resilience in the face of these adverse conditions. Nevertheless, to enhance the sector’s ability to withstand future climate-related disruptions, some fundamental issues need to be addressed to ensure the country benefit s from this valuable crop.

Hamond Motsi is a PhD student in the Faculty of Agrisciences at Stellenbosch University. He is interested in sustainable agriculture and agricultural development in Africa. Feedback: [email protected]