ZIMBABWE
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is encouraging tobacco farmers to diversify into other high-value export crops such as chia, an oilseed, to boost their income.
Isheunesu Moyo, TIMB corporate communications manager, said the promotion of chia production among tobacco farmers was meant to ensure the growers have an all year round source of income.
“We are considering a number of crops including high-value cigars, well sought-after chia, as well as horticulture for export on other alternatives to tobacco production so as to ensure that farmers continue to generate foreign currency. These crops complement tobacco farming,” he said.
“We are having farmer training on chia production targeting all tobacco farmers and our aim is to promote the farmer to engage in horticultural production for exports and also to maximize their return from agriculture,” he added.
Moyo said chia was an ideal crop for diversification since the optimum time for growing it was between January-April which normally is during the tobacco marketing season.
“Chia has good potential as a foreign currency earner as its oil and seeds are in demand outside the country. TIMB has had all its field and technical officers trained in chia production so that they can impart skills and knowledge on chia production to tobacco farmers,” he said.