Published: 27 September 2013

Successful tobacco farming in Zimbabwe can easily improve the food security situation in this country as it is linked to growing other crops in rotation with the cash crop, British American Tobacco Zimbabwe managing director Mr Lovemore Manatsa has said.

Addressing delegates to the 12th annual International Management Conference in Vumba yesterday, Mr Manatsa said the phenomenal rise in the number of small scale tobacco growers from 30 000 in 2000 to around 75 000 driven by the land reform programme should with time boost food production.

Although there have been concerns over a decline in the quantity and quality of tobacco produced in this country, he said this was to be expected as the sector that was dominated by almost 200 white commercial farmers was undergoing transformation.

In a speech read on his behalf by the company's leaf operations manager Mr Gabriel Gumbo, Mr Manatsa said that food production cannot be ignored even if more growers ventured into tobacco.

He said that the increase in the crop size from an all time low of about 40 million kilogrammes in 2005 to the 165 million kg last season was a sure sign that Zimbabwe can reclaim its position as a renowned flavour style tobacco producer with a world market.
- herald

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