The Sunday Mail
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
ZIMBABWE’s first-ever tobacco expo is set to be held from Thursday to Saturday this week in Karoi.
Hundreds of tobacco farmers and stakeholders from around the country are expected to attend the expo, which seeks to promote sustainable farming, enhance markets and promote value addition in the tobacco industry
Chief director for Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri welcomed the inaugural expo.
Speaking at a field day at Dr Samson Nanhanga’s Nyahoa Farm in Hurungwe recently, Prof Jiri challenged organisers of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Expo to add value to farmers.
“The expo has to benefit tobacco farmers and it shouldn’t be an ordinary show, where they just come and exhibit.
“It is also your duty to lure investors who should set up cigarette-making plants in Karoi, where tobacco will be processed and exported to countries like Iran.
“It should be the purpose of this show to expose tobacco farmers to world markets and help realise more from their farming business,” he said.
Dr Nanhanga expressed keenness to embark on tobacco value addition, as he is already involved in beneficiation of fruits on his farm. He said he has put 100 hectares under tobacco this year.
“We are prepared to value add our tobacco; our Government should help us so that we don’t face hurdles. Our banks should help us with funds so that we acquire the requisite machinery for processing. We are capable of embarking on value addition because, as it stands, we are already doing so through producing pure guava juice from guavas that we produce here.”
Zimbabwe Tobacco Expo organiser Mr Brian Vengai said the expo will impart new knowledge and skills to tobacco farmers.
“The expo will bring together all the players in the tobacco sector and open new avenues for farmers,” he said.
