The government has reviewed the tobacco seedlings destruction deadline and has extended it from 31 December 2023 to 15 January 2024, reports The Herald.

By doing so, government is giving tobacco farmers more time to clear their seedbeds after a late start to the season and to profit from recent rainfalls across the country.
“As all tobacco growers are aware, the last day of destroying all seedbeds for this season is 31 December 2023, however, due to the late commencement of the season, many growers of rain-fed tobacco will not be able to transplant their seedlings by the stipulated date.
“Pursuant to the above, Government has in terms of Section 5(1) of the Plant Pests and Diseases (Tobacco) Regulations, 1979, made the following variation to the tobacco seedlings destruction date for 2023/24 season only. The last date of destroying all tobacco plants in seedbeds shall be 15 January 2024, in the case of plants of a type other than oriental,” read the government’s statement.
However, the government emphasized that farmers must stick to all other legislated dates to prevent the carryover of diseases and pests. Failure to do so will result in a fine.
According to the Herald, Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) chairman Mr George Seremwe said farmers appreciated the government’s acceding to their requests saying that would lead to an increase in the planted area.
“The rainfall season started just before Christmas for most tobacco areas and dryland farmers are busy planting, hoping to have finished planting by January 15. As the season seems to have shifted due to the dry spell, the combination of current rains and the deadline extension will enable the hectarage to increase thereby allowing the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) to adjust its projections on hectarage and yields upwards,” he said.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust (TFUT) president Mr Victor Mariranyika also welcomed the decision: “This is a noble idea that will allow those seedlings in seedbeds that had survived the recent moisture stress from lack of water and excessive heat to resurrect after the current rains. We also call on the Government to extend the May 15 tobacco stalk destruction date to a later time,” he said.