Tobacco fine to enforce stalk destruction reviewed

The fine for not destroying tobacco stalks will be reviewed upwards to US$100 per hectare as stakeholders call for new strategies to ensure farmers adhere to the regulation.

The Plant Pests and Disease Act (Chapter 19:08) makes it mandatory for farmers to destroy all living tobacco plants by the May 15 deadline as failure to do so would attract a fine.

Non-compliance by tobacco growers with the regulation has continued to increase despite awareness campaigns carried out by different organisations such as the Tobacco Research Board (TRB), Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) and some farmers’ unions. Failure by farmers to remove stalks has resulted in the spread of diseases and resurfacing of diseases that had become extinct for over 60 years, threatening the viability of the industry that is contributing immensely to economic growth.

TRB chief executive, Dr Dahlia Garwe said failure to destroy plant stalks has increased despite the efforts being made by different stakeholders in the tobacco industry to educate farmers.

“We are trying other strategies. This season the fine has been review upwards to US$100 per hectare and we hope it will be deterrent enough.

“Most commercial farmers are compliant and the problem is mostly with smallholder farmers,” she said.

Dr Garwe said most farmers were aware of the regulation and there was need for enforcement of the law.

“We hope farmer organisations will also help carry awareness campaigns to their members on the dangers of not destroying stalks.

“As TRB we are also going to use GIS to try and locate farmers who are not compliant so that authorities can enforce. TIMB can also stop registering farmers as tobacco growers if they had not complied with the regulation.

“We are also promoting self-policing among farmers. tobacco growers will encourage each other to adhere to the regulation,” she said. Tobacco Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr George Seremwe said they were engaging farmers whenever they have meetings and field days.-herald.clz.w