Naturally, nothing that has to do with farming escapes my eyes. Tobacco was something I knew about at a very young age. My grandfather grew it and at the back of his homestead was a barn. He, together with my grandmother, were tobacco users. My grandfather used a pipe and my grandmother kept a small container that had powdered tobacco that she prepared herself.
farm & garden with Doreen Badze
Curiously, I would observe her putting small amounts on the palm of her left hand and using her thumb and forefinger, she would pick up some to inhale using both nostrils. She would sneeze maybe a couple of times and go on with her business very calmly. I remember she had a special container and a round stone called nhombo that she used to process the roasted tobacco leaves. On the other hand, the few times I overheard grownups talking about my grandfather’s asthmatic attacks, I knew nothing about the nature of that ailment. In retrospect, having been in the health field, that condition could have been well-aggravated by the continuity of smoking tobacco. However, knowing what I now know about the effects of cigarette smoke, it was a blessing to grow up in a smoke-free home and being further blessed with a husband who does not smoke. My visit to the tobacco sales floors brought memories of my initial experience with tobacco.
Tobacco is a vast industry worldwide despite its share of controversy, with health professionals associating it with certain diseases. Zimbabwe is a force to reckon with on the tobacco production arena in the world. Harvesting and sales season has arrived. My visit to Tobacco Sales Floor (TSF) gave me an opportunity to mingle with the farmers who grow the golden leaf. There were mixed thoughts that I got from them. Some exhibited signs of intense anxiety, raising fears that their tobacco was not fetching as much money as they expected while others had smiles on their faces gathering their fellow farmers to return home with good money. Others showed signs of frustrations as they could not get cash from banks. I met with transporters who looked like it was the beginning of their busy time. There were just unbelievably too many people who resembled a political gathering. Among the farmers were vendors who were selling everything from sadza, airtime to furniture.
Disseminating information that I know from experience or mostly gather from professionals to farmers and gardeners has become a motivating factor in the drive to continue writing these articles. What I gathered from one of the TSF workers was that some farmers had not met the requirements of the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board before bringing their tobacco for sale. The requirements include;
lRenewing their grower’s number on time for S10. Those who let their numbers expire will be slapped with a punitive fine of $100. Most farmers are aware of this but wait till the last minute.
*A farmer should have a bank account and some can receive their money through mobile money transfer platforms. *An identification card is needed. *An estimate is needed well before bringing tobacco to the floors.
Without the above, some farmers are experiencing prolonged stays at the floors trying to take care of some requirements they have known about all year long. However, the major challenge to a bigger number of farmers is lack of money to even buy food while waiting for payment. I noticed some male farmers being accompanied by their wives who had children.
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When I asked one of the farmers how she was coping at the tobacco floors, she said; “I arrived two days ago from Karoi. I am tired of travelling and I am hungry. My tobacco has been processed but the bank told me to wait.”
Overly, the hive of activity at the tobacco sales floors was amazing. Literally every kind of vendor you can think of is there benefitting from the sales of the golden leaf. It is my hope that every farmer is rewarded accordingly for their hard work in a timely manner.
This week in our nursery, we have lettuce commander, tsunga paida, broccoli, and eggplant.
Happy farming and gardening week!
Doreen Mutobaya Badze is a retired nurse and passion-driven gardener. She can be reached on Cell: 0779730880 or 16 Metcalf Road, Greendale, Harare. Email address: [email protected] Facebook page: Badze Garden Nursery
