Agri-success marred by tobacco seed scandal

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

Even as Zimbabwe basks in the glow of record-breaking agricultural harvests, a dark cloud looms over its prized tobacco industry. Stakeholders are raising urgent alarms over a burgeoning influx of cheap, low-quality tobacco seeds allegedly smuggled from Zambia, threatening to undermine the nation's meticulously cultivated reputation for producing premium flue-cured tobacco.

A stark dossier, ominously titled "Inquiry on Impact and Control of Illegal Zambian Tobacco Seed in Zimbabwe," lays bare the potential damage. It warns that this illicit trade could severely compromise the very quality that international buyers have come to expect from Zimbabwean tobacco. The fears are not unfounded; past experiences serve as cautionary tales, with growers who unknowingly used uncertified seeds suffering significant financial setbacks. Some, in a cruel twist of fate, even found themselves planting cigar-wrapper tobacco instead of the intended flue-cured varieties, rendering their entire crops unmarketable and devastating their livelihoods.

Francis Mukoyi, head of genetics at the authoritative Kutsaga Research Board, confirmed the disturbing reports of illicit seed sales, which include unapproved old varieties and even local landraces falsely labelled as genuine Kutsaga hybrids. “Our locally-bred and rigorously-tested varieties guarantee the quality international buyers expect. Growers must avoid uncertified seed,” Mukoyi sternly warned. He recounted a recent, distressing incident: “We had recent and unfortunate scenarios where some farmers unknowingly bought seed and used it on their four hectares in the 2024-25 season what turned out to be a cigar wrapper type of tobacco and not the intended flue-cured type.”

This critical threat to the integrity of Zimbabwean tobacco emerges even as the sector celebrates unprecedented success. This season, Zimbabwe’s tobacco farmers set a new national record, proudly producing a colossal 350 million kilogrammes of tobacco.

Beyond tobacco, the nation's agricultural sector as a whole is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, painting a picture of a nation reclaiming its former glory. Wheat production, too, has reached an all-time high, with local farmers harvesting an impressive over 600,000 metric tonnes. This stellar performance has firmly re-established Zimbabwe as one of the top wheat producers on the African continent, a significant achievement for national food security.

Ivan Craig, board chairperson of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda), confirmed the widespread success, stating that the country had recorded "unprecedented yields across key crops." Looking ahead, Craig highlighted further ambitious plans: “Recently, we released funding to rehabilitate and upgrade our irrigation systems, enabling us to meet a new ambitious target of 850,000 metric tonnes of maize this summer season,” he revealed, signaling sustained growth initiatives.

Obert Jiri, secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, attributed this widespread growth in yields to a multi-pronged approach driven by the government. He pointed to successful government-led irrigation projects, the widespread adoption of modern farming practices, and robust financial backing for strategic agricultural inputs as key drivers. “We are excited that Zimbabwe has not only achieved food security but is now an emerging world leader in agricultural exports,” Jiri proclaimed with pride. He concluded by affirming the nation’s rising status: “With record tobacco and wheat yields and the rise of our horticulture sector, we are truly regaining our status as the breadbasket of southern Africa.”