By Delicious Mathuthu
Following the late start of the 2023-24 rain season, the Zimbabwean government has postponed the tobacco seedbed destruction deadline by two weeks.
With the deadline originally set for the 31st of December to prevent the carry over of tobacco pests and diseases, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr. Anxious Masuka said farmers on dry land who rely on the rains will not be able to transplant in time due to the phenomena.
The new seedbed destruction deadline has been moved to the 15th of January next year, 2024.
“As all tobacco growers are aware, the last day of destroying all seedbeds for this season is 31 December 2023.
“However, due to the late commencement of the season, many growers of rain-fed tobacco will not be able to transplant their seedlings by the seedling destruction deadline of 31 December 2023.
“Pursuant to the above, I have, in terms of Section 5(1) of the Plant Pests and Diseases (Tobacco) Regulations, 1979, made the following variation to the tobacco seedlings destruction date for 2023-24 season only.
“The last date of destroying all tobacco plants in seedbeds shall be 15 January 2024, in the case of plants of a type other than oriental,” Minister Masuka said in a statement on Thursday (21/12/2023).
He also warned that farmers who fail to observe the deadlines will be fined.
“All tobacco growers are required to adhere to all other legislated dates to prevent the carryover of diseases and pests.
“As growers are aware, the contravention of regulations requiring the destruction of tobacco plants by a specified date or prohibiting the planting of tobacco plants between specified dates, a grower will be subjected to the following-
a) For a first offence, to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment:
“b) For a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” Minister Masuka said.
Zimbabwe aims at producing between 285 and 300 million kilograms of tobacco in the 2023-24 cropping season despite the lingering and imminent El Nino drought threat.
By early December 2023, more tobacco had been planted under irrigation compared to that of last year over the same period, just over 18 800 hectares planted compared to 18 300 in 2022.
On dry land, the hectarage planted reduced by just over 8 800 hectares, from 34 942ha in 2022 to 26 058ha in 2023 in the same period.
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