THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has partnered the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for uninterrupted power supplies in the 2024/25 farming season, as it seeks to grow input to 300 million kilogrammes.
The plan feeds into TIMB’s vision of growing the industry to a US$60 billion sector by 2028.
The 2023/24 season is estimated to have produced 235 million kgs of tobacco, a drop from the previous season owing to the El Niño-induced drought.
“The board has partnered the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company to ensure a reliable power supply and reduce production costs for tobacco farmers this season. Farmers need electricity for several operations on the farm which include irrigation, a key farming activity that accounts for good quality and weight.”
TIMB has also entered into partnership for the supply of coal facility where registered tobacco farmers would get discounted coal for tobacco curing.
“Traditionally, farmers used to obtain coal at a cost of +US$65 per tonne before value-added tax (VAT). After negotiations with coal suppliers like Hwange Colliery, the coal is now accessible at US$45 per tonne before VAT, saving at least US$20 per tonne,” TIMB said.
“The 2023/24 season was the maiden year of the programme,and 5 319 tonnes of coal were procured through the initiative. This translated to approximately US$100 000 in savings.
“There has been an increased uptake of the product this season with some tobacco contractors bringing their small-scale farmers into the programme to ensure they remain viable and can pay off their debts.”
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TIMB said these initiatives not only reduced the cost of production at the farming level, but also improved the grassroots tobacco farmer’s livelihood.
The board added that the initiatives would also ensure a constant supply of energy in all production stages and encourage alternative curing fuel, reducing pressure on forests and allowing their recovery as Zimbabwe transitions into a green economy.
TIMB said the initiatives are aligned to both the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan and Rural Development 8.0, which seeks to encourage farmers to take farming as a business, improve rural livelihoods, create employment and grow the economy.
“Tobacco remains one of the key cash crops with tangible margins and a guaranteed market. What remains key for now, is to ensure that tobacco farmers consider DIY [do-it-yourself] cost-saving strategies as well as taking advantage of these and other initiatives introduced by the government and TIMB.”
NewsDay Farming understands that all registered tobacco farmers are eligible to access the electricity and coal facilities once registered with TIMB.
