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As preparation for the 2017 tobacco marketing season begin, with seedbed preparations having already started, we have come across a number of enquiries on how one can become a tobacco farmer.This is on the backdrop of a successful season where farmers have benefited over $370 million from 127, 5 million kilogrammes at an average price of $2,91 after the first 50 days of the season.Of these 24, 4 million kilogrammes were sold under the auction system while 103 million kilogrammes were sold under the contract system.

Following extension services from the Department of Agricultural Research and Extension Services (AGRITEX) in conjunction with Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), Tobacco Research Board (TRB) and Farmers Development Trust (FDT) bale rejection rate has gone down 19,83 percent from last year as agronomic practices improve. The national average kilogramme per hectare is slightly shy of 2000 kg per hectare.

Armed with the aforementioned positive statistics, one enquiry went, “I have 25 hectares and I want to put it all under tobacco, how do I proceed”. Every grower, as defined in the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Act (Chapter 18:20) of flue cured Virginia tobacco, is required to register in respect of every tobacco crop to be grown and any person who is not registered and who, by himself or through his agents, grows tobacco, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Both old and new growers are required to register annually.

The period of registration is for the 12 months ending on October 31 in each year.

Application for registration must be made after January 1 and before October 31 prior to the period for which application for registration is being made. Application for registration made outside of these dates renders the applicant liable to pay a late registration fee as provided for in the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Rules 2000 as amended.

The statutory requirements for one to register as a tobacco grower include a recommendation letter from the grower’s local AGRITEX officer to confirm that the grower is a bonafide tobacco grower. One also needs proof of land availability in the form of a permit or land offer letter and in the absence of these, a stamped recommendation letter from the growers, local councillor or chief in the case of a communal area. Another requirement is a national identification document which can be either an original or certified copy.

The identification document also enables the board not to register anyone under the age of 18 years as they cannot get into a contract with employees.

A registration fee of $10 is payable on submission of the form in terms of section 26 of the Act. A late registration fee will be charged for registration done after the deadline of October 31 of every year.

A penalty of $10 is charged in addition to a registration fee of $10 for registration between 1st November and 31 December whilst a penalty of $40 is charged in addition to a registration fee of $10 for registration between 31st December and the start of the marketing season.

Any registration that is done after the commencement of the marketing season attracts a penalty of $90 in addition to a registration fee of $10. Growers are encouraged to register before the 31st of October as registration provides statistical information about the total number of growers and possible crop size.

This information is important for planning purposes especially on the number of auction floors, number of buyers and mobilising financial resources to buy the crop, information which has a direct bearing on the pricing of the tobacco as prices are likely to be softer if more tobacco is delivered than the original projections. TIMB has offices in Harare, Chinhoyo, Karoi, Marondera, Mvurwi, Bindura and Rusape where new growers can register.

Renewals can also be done using the Ecocash platform where the appropriate registration fee depending on the date of payment is made as a bill.

The TIMB Biller code for renewals is 41986. The board is also concerned about the output in terms of quality hence it urges farmers to increase scale in terms of hectares after mastering the rigours of the trade as quality is of utmost importance.

As a result, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board also conducts training on good agronomical practices in all the major tobacco farming provinces for free.

These trainings are aimed at impacting the output and ensuring that tobacco is produced in a sustainable way.

Farmers are encouraged to approach the aforementioned regional offices so as to access these trainings. The training conducted at no cost to the farmer are conducted on seedbed preparation right through to marketing and presentation. Farmers who have participated in similar trainings in previous years have improved their yield per hectare and consequently the quality of their crop in the face of austere climatic conditions.

For additional Information contact: TIMB at 429 Glen Eagles Road, Southerton, Harare or write to us on P.O Box 10214, Harare or on telephone numbers 0772145166 /9 or 0279-22082 /21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268 /29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free Number 0731999999 or E-mail: [email protected]