Tobacco farming in Zimbabwe

Tobacco farmers selling their produce at TSF.

Growing conditions and growing area

• This accounts for 30 % of the country forex earnings and 12% of GDP.
• It employs over 300 000 people.
• Region 2 major growing area.
• Rainfall 700-1000 mm and temperature is 21°C
• Soils are well drained sandy soils.
• Plant seeds in nurseries that are fertile.
• The seedbeds are mulched to retain moisture.
• Tools are washed in formalin to protect seedlings from diseases and fumigation is also done to kill pests.
• Ploughed fields are ridged in preparation for transplanting. This is done in September-October.
• Seedlings are transplanted to the fields and irrigating is done.
• Weeds are controlled by spraying or physical weeding by hand.
• Harvesting is done by hand when the crop is ripe.
• Crop ripens at 2 levels per week, the leaves turn golden in colour.
• Tractor collects the harvested leaves to a barn.

Processing and marketing

• Tobacco processing is called curing, which is the controlled removal of moisture from the leaf.
• Flue curing occurs in barns by use of pipes carrying steam around the barn called flues.
• The steam in the flues raises barn temperature.
• Barns are not to be over-packed as heat would not be evenly distributed.
• Leaves wither slowly and become tender.
• Sun and fire curing is done on racks in the open.
• Sorting the leaves is next done on the basis of type, colour, size, texture and blemish.
• Packing occurs to transport the tobacco to auction floors for sale.
• About 70 countries pass through tobacco sales floors annually.

Problems

• World anti-tobacco lobby threatening viability of the crop-smoking causes lung cancer and respiratory complications.
• Competition from other producers notably Brazil and Russia.
• Unpredictable prices on market.
• Increasing costs of labour which is now highly unionized.
• Coal prices are also increasing or there are coal shortages from Hwange.
• Fertiliser costs are sky-rocketing, affecting not just tobacco farming but the whole agriculture sector.
• Prolonged rains or very wet seasons reduce quality and output.

To access more topics go to the O Level Geography Notes page