Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE Zimbabwe tobacco industry is now standing at a critical juncture, where the balancing act of remarkable production achievements and ever-pressing environmental concerns are likely to dampen its future economic growth.
Stakeholders have highlighted that the pursuit of higher yields of the golden leaf is intertwined with challenges of sustainability, notably deforestation and resource management mostly in outlying areas.
Morris Magaramombe (45)’s life is literally torn apart as he is pushing for better yields of the golden leaf production under Chief Chundu in the Hurungwe North constituency.
The battle to increase his one-hectare plot is somewhat easy, but has a headache of finding trees to cure the crop after harvesting.
“The land is there, but we are slowly failing to get enough trees to cure the tobacco after harvesting,” he said.
“Our indigenous trees are diminishing, and tobacco farming is on the brink of failure.”
About 80km north of the farming town of Karoi, small-scale farmers are facing realities of environmental degradation of trees which are mainly used for tobacco curing.
Sooner than later, Zimbabwe’s tobacco productive districts, including Hurungwe, will turn into deserts.
In contrast, in past recent years, the same sector has been celebrating record-breaking crop sizes, with stakeholders hailing these increases as a sign of industry success.
However, beneath this enthusiasm lies a host of challenges that threaten the long-term sustainability and profitability of tobacco farming.
Stakeholders have called for the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) to urgently intervene to control the increased hectarage, lest the sector goes into tail spin.
“While a larger harvest may appear beneficial at first glance, basic economics teaches us that oversupply inevitably leads to falling prices,” an agronomist with the tobacco company said.
“This can have devastating consequences for contract farmers, many of whom rely on loans to finance their operations.
“When prices drop, these farmers struggle to meet their loan obligations, risking financial ruin and undermining the very livelihoods the sector is meant to support.”
Added the agronomist: “Moreover, Zimbabwe’s tobacco processing infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle such large volumes. The country’s three main processing facilities are already stretched to their limits.
“A bumper crop means more tobacco sitting in storage, where it risks losing moisture and, consequently, value. This not only reduces yields but also increases storage costs as unsold stocks accumulate.”
An agricultural economist noted that the environmental impact of unchecked crop expansion is equally alarming.
“In key tobacco-producing areas like Hurungwe district, under which Karoi farming town falls, the rate of deforestation has soared as farmers clear more land to plant tobacco,” he explained.
“This unsustainable expansion threatens biodiversity, accelerates soil degradation, and undermines the ecological foundations upon which the industry depends.
“The most important is sustainability and stop the cutting of any trees or we will be a desert in five years.”
Recently, TIMB chief executive officer Emmanuel Matsvaire indicated that Zimbabwe’s tobacco crop size could soon surpass 400 million kilogrammes per season.
While this figure may be celebrated by some as a new milestone, it only heightens the risks associated with oversupply, processing bottlenecks and environmental degradation.
Without proper regulation, the sector could find itself overwhelmed by the very success it now pursues.
TIMB public affairs officer Chelesani Tsarwe noted that the tobacco industry in Zimbabwe has adopted a comprehensive approach to address deforestation through sustainable afforestation programs.
“The key initiatives include Sustainable Afforestation Association (SAA) programme, where tobacco companies, through SAA, have established eucalyptus plantations to provide a sustainable source of timber for tobacco curing,” she said.
“Some tobacco companies have begun distributing wood to contracted farmers from these plantations and the Eastern Highlands, where invasive wattle trees are being cleared.”
Added Tsarwe: “Secondly, TIMB conducts awareness campaigns and training sessions for tobacco farmers on adherence to environmental laws and regulations, such as Statutory Instrument 116/2012.
“TIMB has also mandated tobacco companies to distribute a minimum of 1 000kg of coal per hectare contracted to reduce reliance on wood fuel in the short term. Renewable sources of energy is the future of Zimbabwe tobacco sector.”
On the other hand, the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe has a Tobacco Wood Energy programme funded by the afforestation levy.
The programme focuses on promoting sustainable energy sources for tobacco curing.
The Forestry Commission has established central tree nurseries to supply seedlings to tobacco farmers.
Tsarwe explained that the industry is working closely with stakeholders, including the Tobacco Research Board (TRB) and tobacco companies, to improve curing barn efficiency and promote sustainable forest management.
“These collective efforts aim to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable tobacco production in Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association president George Seremwe said there is nothing wrong with the new target of 400 million kilogrammes, where the sector can navigate through challenges with adventures of smart agriculture.
“The new target of 400 million kilogrammes is achievable. The tobacco sector must invest more on new technologies, curing facilities that use smart technology, as part of sustainable development. We can use the available solutions, especially solar system as a renewable energy, or coal, among others,” Seremwe said.
“If this done well, it reduces the burden of trees for curing tobacco. We, therefore, encourage our farmers to reduce usage of trees. Woodlots should be revived to complement the curing.”
He added that there is need for revived forests, especially indigenous trees.
“We must be proactive in sustainable development of renewable energy in tobacco sector, where more researchers must focus on renewable sources of energy in tobacco sector,” Seremwe said.
“Universities must be part of renewable energy solutions to tobacco sector and how effective and efficient will this be for future generations.
“Our focus is centred on curing side that is simple and effective. However, the cost of production must look into where value addition is part of the long-term solutions.”
He, however, said globally, there is a huge appetite for the golden leaf.
Never Gariromo, a carbon project development expert under the Institute of Sustainability and Development Finance, confirmed that Zimbabwe has the potential to use biogas for tobacco curing.
“The Zimbabwe Nationally Determined Contributions 3.0 revealed the availability of feedstock for production of biogas,” he said.
“The NDC 3.0 statement recognizes the waste sector, including solid waste disposal, as a key source of methane emissions that needs to be addressed to meet the country’s overall mitigation target.”
Gariromo said that the country is moving towards integrating waste management into renewable energy approaches, aligning with circular economy principles to recover value from waste and minimise landfill dependence.
“This includes agriculture waste in rural communities. Usage of biogas for tobacco curing as the feedstock is available and sustainable development in agricultural sector.
“Those in urban areas can produce biogas, compress it and fill it in gas tanks for consumption by the small-scale farmers. This is affordable and sustainable. Utilising animal dung and food waste to produce fuel for cooking and heating, will also provide high-quality manure farming.
“Today there is a new techy that provides access to PVC biogas digester with cleaning and compressor. That’s an investment worth to be supported as it displaces use of firewood in tobacco curing.”
However, Gariromo noted that the government needs to support such initiatives.
As Zimbabwe continues to produce more golden leaf for the global market, the use of renewable energy sources and smart agriculture remains part of positive strides on sustainable development.
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