Category: Leaf

  • Zimbabwe Seed Sales Hint at Larger 2024 Crop

    Zimbabwe Seed Sales Hint at Larger 2024 Crop

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Zimbabwe has sold 673 kg of tobacco seed with the capacity to cover 112,104 hectares as of July 20, 2023, reports The Herald, citing Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) statistics. The country’s aim, formulated in the government’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, is to reach 300 million kg of tobacco a season by 2025. 

    “This season, we are expecting an increase in hectarage, thanks to the coming on board of new growers and players in the industry as well as the decision by those who have already been in the industry to increase production,” TIMB public relations officer Chelesani Tsarwe said.

     “We are currently exploring economically viable alternatives to tobacco through robust diversification programs,” Tsarwe said. “We are glad that we can now ride on the fact that TIMB recently became a certified member of global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and we have registered trainers and farm assurers who will work with farmers to ensure compliance with global standards for export crops.”

    Tsarwe also noted that there is a focus on implementing the sustainable tobacco program and becoming environmental, social and governance compliant.

    “Sustainable agricultural practices will reduce the negative effects of tobacco production, and our tobacco products will be better ranked on the global market,” said Tsarwe.

    Tobacco accounts for a large margin of the country’s exports.

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco growers produced a record 291.1 million kg of tobacco worth $882.2 million this season.

  • Red Algae Protein Doub Boosts Tobacco Growth

    Red Algae Protein Doub Boosts Tobacco Growth

    Photo: YanaKho

    Researchers out of Cornell University have successfully transferred key regions of red algae into a tobacco plant using bacteria as an intermediary, resulting in doubled photosynthesis and plant growth compared to tobacco grown with the unaltered protein, according to a story in the Cornell Chronicle.

    The study centers on Rubisco, the most abundant protein across ecosystems. The protein performs the first step of photosynthesis by fixing carbon, but it is slow and struggles to differentiate between carbon dioxide and oxygen, often limiting plant growth and crop yield.

    The researchers found a species of red algae, Griffithsia monilis (Gm), that contains Rubisco that is 30 percent more efficient at fixing carbon than Rubisco in other organisms. Laura Gunn and her co-authors of the study used the 3D structure of GmRubisco to successfully graft a small number of regions from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsRubisco) into a bacterial Rubisco.

    “RsRubisco is not very efficient, but it is very closely related to GmRubisco—they’re like cousins—which means that unlike land-plant Rubisco, it accepts the grafted sequences,” said Gunn. “RsRubisco also doesn’t need any special chaperones for it to fold and assemble in land plants.”

    Using the altered Rubisco increased the carboxylation rate by 60 percent, increased carboxylation efficiency by 22 percent and improved RsRubisco’s ability to distinguish between carbon dioxide and oxygen by 7 percent. When transplanted into tobacco, it doubled photosynthesis and plant growth compared to tobacco with unaltered RsRubisco.

    “We’re not at the point where we’re outperforming wild-type tobacco, but we’re on the right trajectory,” said Gunn. “We only need fairly modest improvements to Rubisco performance because even a very small increase over a whole growing season can lead to massive changes in plant growth and yield, and the potential applications span many sectors: higher agricultural production; more efficient and affordable biofuel production; carbon sequestration approaches; and artificial energy possibilities.”

    The research was supported by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Formas Future Research Leaders and the European Regional Development Fund.

  • Zimbabwe Records Best Ever Sales

    Zimbabwe Records Best Ever Sales

    Image: Taco Tuinstra

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco auctions will close July 31 after four months of record sales, according to Bulawayo24.

    Final cleanup sales for the auction system will take place on Aug. 30, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).

    “After consultations with all stakeholders, the board wishes to advise that the official date of closure for the 2023 auction floors is 31 July.

    “However, growers will still be able to sell their auction tobacco through a mop-up sale. The final auction cleanup sales will be held on Wednesday, 30 August 2023,” the TIMB said.

    “Contract sales will continue to operate until such a time when individual contractors have fully received all their tobacco,” the TIMB added.

    “The closure was approved by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honorable Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka,” said the TIMB.

    A total of 291.1 million kg of tobacco worth $882.2 million has been sold at an average price of $3.03 per kilogram. Of the total tobacco sold, 271.2 million kg were sold via the contract system.

    This year’s sales volumes put Zimbabwe on track to achieve its target of 300 million kg by 2025, as formulated in the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, ahead of schedule.

  • Brazil Ag Minister Asked for Support Prior to COP

    Brazil Ag Minister Asked for Support Prior to COP

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Tobacco supply chain representatives met with the Brazilian minister of agriculture, Carlos Favaro, on July 12, to ask his support ahead of the upcoming 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

    “Brazil is the top exporter of tobacco worldwide and has occupied this position for 30 years now and is the second largest producer,” said Iro Schunke, president of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), in a statement.

    “For this leadership role, Brazil should be a protagonist in defending a crop that contributes decisively to the socioeconomic progress of several cities, especially in the south region of the country. Historically, the Ministry of Agriculture has been an ally of the productive sector within this context because it has a good grasp of the impacts of the directives coming from the FCTC could have on the thousands of people who derive their livelihood from this crop, which is processed and exported. This is the stance we again expect from the ministry.”

    Brazil should be a protagonist in defending a crop that contributes decisively to the socioeconomic progress.

    Iro Schunke, president, SindiTabaco

    The meeting was also attended by Benicio Albano Werner, the president of the Tobacco Growers’ Association of Brazil (Afubra); Giuseppe Lobo, executive director of the Brazilian Tobacco Industry Association (Abifumo); Guido Hoff, executive director of the Association of the Tobacco Growing Municipalities (AmproTabaco); Carlos Joel da Silva, president of FETAG-RS; Romeu Schneider, president of the Tobacco Sectoral Chamber; and Helena Hermany, mayor of Santa Cruz do Sul. 

    COP10 is scheduled to take place in November in Panama.

  • Growers Welcome New Buyer on Market

    Growers Welcome New Buyer on Market

    Tobacco growers in Malawi have welcomed the debut of a new tobacco purchaser, Nyasa Tobacco Buying Co. (NTBC).

    According to a report in the Nyasa Times, NTBC paid $3.06 per kg for burley tobacco at the Lilongwe Auction Floors on July 10.

    Tobacco is Malawi’s largest agricultural export, earning the country much-needed foreign currency. Growers, however, have not always been satisfied with the prices offered for their leaf.

    Tobacco Commission President Joseph Malunga recently assured the country that his organization would bring in more buyers to promote competition.

    Tobacco Reporter recently published a special report about efforts to diversify Malawi’s economy and develop supplemental value chains to reduce the country’s reliance on the golden leaf.  

  • Tobacco Farmers Urged to Destroy Stalks

    Tobacco Farmers Urged to Destroy Stalks

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is urging tobacco growers who have not destroyed tobacco plant stalks to immediately destroy them to avoid carrying diseases and pests to the next crop, reports The Chronicle.

    The TIMB stated that according to the Plant Pests and Disease Act, tobacco stalks must be destroyed by May 15 every year. Failure to comply with regulations brings penalties, including contract suspension and monetary fines or imprisonment.

    “Against this backdrop, tobacco growers are being reminded that all tobacco stalks should have been destroyed by now. Those who have not destroyed stalks are reminded to destroy their stalks immediately to avoid carrying over diseases and pests to the next crop,” the TIMB stated.

    “As we destroy tobacco stalks, we are also reminded to observe the set tobacco legislative date of Sept. 1, the earliest date to transplant tobacco. Planting tobacco before this set date will attract penalties and sanctions.

    “If 10 percent of the contracted farmers are noncompliant, the responsible contractor will be penalized or suspended from operations until they comply fully. Therefore, no contractor will contract a farmer who has not destroyed their tobacco stalks. Any grower who has not destroyed tobacco stalks and has been contracted shall be de-contracted from that contract scheme. Please note that TIMB and Ministry of Lands officers are inspecting all fields and compiling lists of all noncompliant farmers.”

    A farmer’s first offense will incur a fine of $100 or the local currency equivalent for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offense is committed, imprisonment of up to a year or both a fine and imprisonment. A second or subsequent offense will incur a fine up to $200 or the local currency equivalent for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offense is committed, imprisonment of up to two years or both a fine and imprisonment.

    So far, Zimbabwe has sold over 280 million kg of tobacco. “Given that production has increased, let us take all the precautions to sustain the production and ensure we reach the target of 300 million kg by 2025,” the TIMB said. 

    Production is expected to increase by 8.5 percent year-on-year. Earlier this month, press reports suggested Zimbabwe would achieve its 300 million kg target ahead of schedule.

  • Zimbabwe to Achieve Target Early

    Zimbabwe to Achieve Target Early

    Workers at Atlas Agri receive bales of leaf at the company’s warehouse in Harare. Zimbabwe is anticipating record volumes this season. (Video: Taco Tuinstra)

    Zimbabwe is poised to reach its 300 million kg tobacco crop target ahead of schedule with 284 million kg already delivered and sold this season, reports The Herald.

    Last season the final count was 212 million kg. If the proportions of the final crop delivered by this time are the same as last year, Zimbabwe should reach its 300 million kg 2025 target within a few weeks.

    “Over 284 million kgs of tobacco have been sold this season, surpassing the set targets, meaning we had a good and very productive season,” said Chelesani Tsarwe, public relations officer at the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, which regulates the trade.

    In an attempt to extract more value from the country’s tobacco business, the government of Zimbabwe has formulated the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan. The blueprint aims to create a $5 billion tobacco industry by 2025 through a combination of value addition and increased leaf production.

    The 284 million kg compares with 190 million kg sold in the same period last year and represents a new record.

    The Herald, which tends to tow the government line, attributes the country’s productivity to its controversial land reform program in the early 2000s, which involved the confiscation of primarily white-owned commercial farms and redistribution of land to smallholders.

    Prior to land reform, Zimbabwean tobacco was produced by about 1,500 commercial farmers who sold their tobacco at auction. Today, tobacco is produced by tens of thousands of small-scale farmers, most of whom contract directly with leaf merchants because they lack the means to finance their own operations.

    Zimbabwe produces 6 percent of the world’s tobacco. The country reportedly has enough tobacco seed to cater for the next eight years.

  • India: Sale of Excess Tobacco Allowed

    India: Sale of Excess Tobacco Allowed

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has permitted the sale of excess flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco via auction platforms, according to The New Indian Express.

    The orders follow Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s letter to Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal requesting farmers be allowed to sell excess FCV after being negatively affected by the Mandous cyclone.

    “Of the total tobacco grown in 53,000 hectares, more than 50 percent of the area was severely damaged, due to which the farmers replanted the crop as there is no alternate crop,” Reddy wrote. “Mandous cycle caused tobacco growers to incur additional costs on the production of the crop during this year as the farmers were forced to go for replanting, which also forced the farmer to irrigate the crop during the season to save the crop. Cost of production increased heavily due to replanting, irrigation and increased labor costs.”

    FCV tobacco farmers affected by the cyclone are not in a monetary position to pay penalties for excess tobacco produced beyond authorized quantities. Reddy requested orders similar to those in Karnataka allowing the sale of excess FCV be issued to help tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh.

  • Brazilian Lawmakers Debate COP10

    Brazilian Lawmakers Debate COP10

    Photo: SindiTabaco

    Brazil’s House of Representatives held a public hearing June 15 to clarify the country’s position in the upcoming conference of the parties to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which is scheduled to take place in Panama in November (COP10).

    The debate had been requested by federal deputy Alceu Moreira, who lamented the degree of “injustice, disinformation and ideologically oriented political correctness” he claimed to have witnessed in the runup to the conference.

    “We produce a licit crop; we are not committing a crime,” said Moreira. “We are proud of engaging in constructive debates with the aim to protect a licit crop and we refuse to be reprimanded for growing tobacco.”

    As one of the world’s largest exporters of leaf tobacco, Brazil could be heavily impacted by the decisions made at COP10. In the most recent season, the southern region of Brazil alone produced 560 million kg of tobacco, generating BRL9.5 billion ($1.98 billion) for 128,000 farm families.

    The public hearing was attended by representatives of the ministry of foreign affairs, the ministry of agriculture and livestock, and the ministry of agrarian development and family farming. The ministry of health declined to take part, saying that the debate was premature, given that the WHO had yet to publish an agenda for COP10.

    The tobacco industry was represented by the tobacco growers association Afubra and the interstate tobacco industry union SindiTabaco, among other organizations.

    SindiTabaco President Iro Schünke lamented the lack of transparency in the FCTC meetings. “The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is the worst dictatorship I know, where the real interested parties are not allowed to take part in the debates,” he said.

    The tobacco industry, said Schünke, produces a licit crop that generates income and jobs for millions of Brazilians and is committed to sustainable production. “My intervention is to discover what stance the Brazilian delegation will adopt at the upcoming COP 10 meeting and warn about the consequences from a poorly conducted positioning at the COP,” he said in a statement.

  • ITGA Calls Attention to Growers’ Viability

    ITGA Calls Attention to Growers’ Viability

    Photo: ITGA

    During a recent tour of Africa’s leading tobacco growing country’s José Javier Aranda, the president of the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA), stressed the importance of sustainability and grower viability.

    “Sustainability starts by securing viability to growers; without it, the very pillar of the sector is at risk,” he said.

    A fifth-generation tobacco grower in Salta, Argentina, Aranda shared examples to improve social and environmental conditions in tobacco growing that had been successfully implemented in his home country. He cited the contributions of Argentina’s Special Tobacco Fund, which has allowed local growers to remain viable and reinvest in social, economic and environmental initiatives.

    As part of his tour, Aranda attended TAMA Farmers’ Trust annual general meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, which was opened by Malawi’s minister of agriculture, Dalitso Kawale. During the gathering, Aranda stressed the need for governments and grower bodies to work against the demonization of the sector.  

    Another key point of discussion was the conference of the parties to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which will take place in Panama in November (COP10). The ITGA has been campaigning to counter the claims raised by WHO about tobacco farming and about the economic viability of alternatives crops.

    “WHO FCTC operates against its own rules of procedure and under Article 5.3 is deliberately excluding the tobacco farmers’ voice and other tobacco sector key players from the discussion,” said Aranda. “This is the main reason why Article 17 (economically viable alternatives to tobacco growing) has not seen any evolution.

    “Article 17 has not provided any results in the search of viable alternative crops in the great majority of tobacco growing countries. Growers are already planting complementary crops whenever the conditions are provided. We urge the WHO FCTC to apply a pragmatic approach towards this issue. ITGA and its member associations are ready to cooperate.”

    In Harare, Zimbabwe, the ITGA attended the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association’s annual general meeting and conducted its 2023 Africa regional meeting, officially opened by Minister of Agriculture Anxious J. Masuka. Representatives of four leading tobacco-growing countries attended these meetings: Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, while the public session was joined by key partners and stakeholders in the sector. 

    During the ITGA Africa regional meeting closed session, growers’ representatives presented reports highlighting the key dynamics in their respective markets. Tobacco growers in Malawi have strengthened their efforts in producing a compliant crop, for example, while in Zimbabwe, the current sustainability focus is on curing fuels, agricultural labor practices and traceability.

    Earlier in June, ITGA CEO Mercedes Vázquez participated in several events in Tanzania, hosted by Tobacco Cooperative Joint Enterprise. Among other parties, she met Tanzania’s minister of agriculture, Hussein M. Bashe and the Tanzania Tobacco Board.