ZTA members receive gum tree seedlings from Forestry Commission
In a significant move towards boosting sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly tobacco curing practices, the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe (FCZ) in the Madziwa area, Mashonaland Central, recently handed over 10,000 gum tree seedlings to local ZTA tobacco farmer members. This initiative is a part of a broader ongoing effort to promote environmentally responsible tobacco curing methods…
Climate-smart practices to mitigate tobacco yield losses in a drought year
By Dr S. Dimbi and Dr F. Magama The current weather forecasts indicate a transition into an El Niño state in the second half of 2023 and Zimbabwe is among the countries at risk of dry conditions. Considering the significant impact that water stress has on agricultural production, this article is aimed at highlighting cultural…
Agronomy Notes – Achieving Yield 2015-16 season
The past season has been particularly difficult for most growers. Prices were static and yields static or down. This means therefore, that most people will be starting next season “on the back foot”. Often growers look for the “magical bullet” to improve their situation. This might be a new variety, fertilizer, a chemical, perhaps a…
False Fire Worm Alert
Pest Biology The Kutsaga Plant Clinic has received a growing number of false wire worm cases in the past week. Wireworms are the larval stage of several species of “click” beetles. There are two sub-categories of wireworms; True wireworms which belong to the family Elateridae and False wireworms belonging to the family Tenebrionidae (Fig 1…
2022/23 record tobacco crop produced
The TIMB is driving Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry to purposefully implement the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan (TVCTP) and work towards attaining 300 million kg of tobacco and a USD 5 billion dollar industry by 2025. Zimbabwe is on track to achieving the set target of tobacco by 2025. To date, 295 million kg of tobacco…
National Sale : Showcase for finest cattle across breeds
The annual event that is the National Sale has come and gone. Without doubt, it is the cattle industry’s premier annual event and this year, the 55th sale did not disappoint. As per tradition, the auction began after a welcome by Zimbabwe Herd Book (ZHB) chairman, John Crawford. A minute’s silence was held to remember…
ITGA President calls on Government to defend tobacco growers
Tobacco growers should be protected, and the defence of the sector needs to be taken very seriously by governments of tobacco growing countries. We need their commitment as recognition for the efforts being made by growers every day. José Javier Aranda, president of the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA), made the call during his keynote…
ITGA 2023 Africa Regional Meeting
Tobacco central to African producers’ economies Growers’ representatives from four of the leading tobacco producing markets in Africa – Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe – met in Harare, Zimbabwe for the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) 2023 Africa Regional Meeting. Participants requested the support of their governments in the face of multiple threats affecting tobacco…
ZTA President’s message to Congress
Seasonal review: 63rd Annual Congress Past ZTA Presidents, current Vice-Presidents, ZTA Trustees, ZTA councillors, the ZTA Executive, ITGA President Jose Aranda, ITGA CEO Mercedes Vasquez, ITGA Market Analyst Manager Ivan Genov, TIMB Board members, CEO and their representatives here present, TRB Board members, CEO and their representatives here present, Tobacco Leaf Exporters Association of Zimbabwe…
Finding a local solution for deforestation
Research into finding sustainable curing fuels for tobacco is being undertaken by the University of Zimbabwe’s Industrial Engineering and Mechatronics department. They have been working on the development of a furnace and stoker designed to burn maize cobs to provide supplementary heating needed for tobacco curing. This may be crucial for mitigating the environmental impact…