Preparing for drought

The Tobacco Research Board (TRB) of Zimbabwe plans to develop drought-resistant tobacco varieties to mitigate effects of climate change, characterized by longer dry spells.

In its 2017-2018 annual report, the TRB said hot and dry weather conditions prevailing in the country posed a challenge to tobacco growers as the season was characterized by poor rainfall patterns.

“The season was characterized by poor rainfall distribution and this was particularly pertinent as over 85 percent of the Zimbabwean tobacco grower is a small-scale producer depending on rains,” TRB general manager Dahlia Garwe told The NewsDay.

The hot and dry conditions gave way to cool wet weather later in the season, leading to an outbreak of potato virus (PVY).