LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
The Tobacco Research Board (TRB) has diversified into other crops away from its traditional tobacco related business, it has been learnt.
These crops include sweet potatoes, bananas and fruit trees, TRB chief executive officer Frank Magama said.
“We are heavily involved in the research of tobacco but we have since gone out of that as we are also involved in the plant clinic where we diagnose diseases not only for tobacco but for the whole industry including recommendations and remedial action that can be taken,” he said.
“We are promoting the production of potatoes for the industry and we are looking at it from import substitution policy where we want to provide all the seed that is grown for potato in Zimbabwe.
Magama said the board has moved to develop the growing of other cash crops to transform the whole agriculture sector and ensure that the country’s dependency on imports comes to an end.
Magama said TRB wants to ensure that the country should be an exporter of various crops by 2025.
TRB has exclusive rights to flue-cured research in Zimbabwe and all varieties of tobacco sold in Zimbabwe must be those recommended by the research board.
Without TRB’s approval, one’s seed is regarded as counterfeit which might destabilise the growth of the golden leaf.
Furthermore, all agrochemicals used on tobacco must be approved by the TRB before use, in terms of the Tobacco Marketing and Levy Act.
The board emphasises science-and fact-based management of the crop by growers.
TRB provides an authoritative source of information, knowledge and technology for tobacco growers in particular but also other players in the farming sector.
The research board undertakes a number of activities in support of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to maximise economic value towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
