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Martin Kadzere Senior Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE might register a decline in hectarage under tobacco crop next season as seed sales have declined by 30 percent compared to the same time last year, an official said.

With only two weeks left before the end of normal seed selling period, the uptake is down by 28,7 percent to 417 500 kilogrammes from about 585 200kg over the same period last year.

The seed sold so far will translate to 417 500 hectares, down from 585 200ha put under the tobacco crop last season. However, the decline in hectarage does not necessarily translate to lower production.

“It looks like we are going to have a decline (in hectarage under crop) considering that we are 30 percent down in seed sales with only two weeks left,” Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said in an interview this week.

“The reasons are not yet fully established but indications are that a number of farmers especially in the northern parts of Mashonaland West and Central provinces are moving away from tobacco after harvesting a poor crop during the previous season.”

According to TIMB, just over 53 000 farmers have registered to grow the crop this year, compared to around 70 000 farmers at the same time last year.

Tobacco has become Zimbabwe’s major foreign currency earner, with close to 92 000 farmers growing the crop, a number significantly higher than 52 000 farmers three years ago.

Most farmers have abandoned traditional crops like maize and cotton in preference of tobacco, but lack of expertise and unsuitable conditions have resulted in a number of farmers producing a poor crop, analysts have said.

Last season, most tobacco growers complained about low prices while the merchants argued the crop quality was poor.

“We have witnessed a significant growth in farmers taking up production of tobacco in the recent years, but I am sure the trend is not going to be the same going forward,” said an economist with a local research company.

“Many farmers have lost their money after investing in tobacco due to lack of expertise and we are likely to witness a reverse shift (farmers reverting to traditional crops).”

Zimbabwe National Farmers Union vice president Mr Garikai Msika said many farmers have been attracted to grow tobacco because it is a better paying crop.

“There was an artificial overview of tobacco,” said Mr Msika.

“But it is not about just producing tobacco; but good quality to make money. That is why some are falling by the way side. You need a good investment to succeed; to invest in training, attitude and time to be successful.”

Seasonal tobacco sales for 2015 were 198,7 million kg compared to 216,1 million kg in 2014. Auction sales for 2015 recorded 46,7 million compared to 50,7 million kg realised.

The bulk of the crop is produced under contract sales with 152 million kg produced in 2015, a decline from 165,3 million kg realised a in 2014.