Tobacco farmers should opt for other crops

On 14 October 2014 The NewsDay reported that the number of tobacco growers who registered for the 2015 agricultural season declined when compared to the number of farmers who registered last year for this years' farming season.  

Following that report, it is however, disheartening to note that this year only 75 580 famers registered to grow tobacco which is against 87 281 farmers who registered in 2013 same period because of a number of reasons.

It is alleged that most tobacco growers claimed that they were not pleased with the price that tobacco was marked at, at the auction floors which is said to be lower than that of previous years. On the other hand, tobacco buyers were blaming the farmers that this year tobacco's quality was poor when compared to previous years.

Previous reports also indicated that tobacco farmers were calling for decentralization of auction floors in their provinces as transporting tobacco from different areas across the nation to Harare tobacco auction floors was a big challenge to them, which took most of their proceeds. In addition, it is also noted that those farmers also complained of expensive accommodation that was charged to them while they will be waiting for their produce to go through the auction floors.

It is imperative to note that agriculture is the backbone of our economy and all efforts must be done to make the small holder farmer reap maximum profit from their produces. Following that, tobacco farmers who are facing such challenges and decided not to grow tobacco for the next coming agricultural season should therefore be encouraged to find other alternative crops to grow rather than living their farms idle.

There are a number of crops that can be grown instead of tobacco. These farmers can either engage themselves in maize farming or small grains depending on the suitability of the soil. Crops like maize and small grains will actually help in boosting the food security of the country. Maize is the most important grain crop in Zimbabwe, being both a major feed grown and a staple food for the majority of the population.

Apart from selling their maize as raw grain, maize can be processed and sold as maize meal or alternatively sold into a variety of other by products such as flour, oil, maputi and samp.  Maize grit can also be sold as snacks or stock feed.

The reduction in the number of tobacco farmers may mean a rise in the country's food security for the next farming season.

All farmers should start their preparations now as lack of proper planning will affect the production output of crops. It is this time that farmers should run around purchasing farm inputs such as seeds and fertilizers.

However, on the other side of hand, the Government through Ministry of Agriculture Mechanization and Irrigation Development should do awareness programmes addressing all tobacco farmers on the best methods they can use  when growing their tobacco, best fertilizers to use that suit well with climate and the type of soil in that area. This could assist in improving the quality of tobacco being produced by these farmers.