Pests determine prices

Tobacco growers in Zimbabwe have started transplanting tobacco seedlings to fields under irrigation, according to a story in The Herald.
Midlands Provincial crop and livestock officer Madeliner Magwenzi said growers with irrigation facilities, mainly in the Gweru and Kwekwe districts, had undergone thorough training by Agritex and various tobacco training institutions, including the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board and the Tobacco Research Board to improve their agronomic practices.
“Irrigation tobacco is now being transplanted and we are urging tobacco growers to apply systemic aphicides and nematicides during the transplanting stage of tobacco to avoid the spread of insect transmitted diseases,’ she was reported as saying.
Magwenzi added that growers were being trained in integrated pest management because the anticipated El Nino weather conditions could be associated with more and early pests and diseases.
Tobacco farmers needed to be wary of pests while they were transplanting because the application of the wrong pesticides could lead to pest resistance, pest resurgence and environmental pollution.
Magwenzi said that the training bodies would continue to educate growers on pest management because such management affected yields and quality, and ultimately profit margins.
The Midlands Province is aiming to plant 500 ha under irrigated tobacco this season.