Tobacco farmers near tree-planting goal

TABORA: TOBACCO farmers have come close to meeting their three-year tree-planting target, achieving 97.3 per cent of the goal. So far, they have planted 145 million trees out of the 150 million since 2022 aimed for, contributing to environmental preservation and sustainable agriculture.

The initiative helps combat deforestation, promote reforestation and protect soil health, reflecting farmers’ commitment to both the environment and longterm farming productivity Tanzania Tobacco Board (TTB) Director General, Mr Stanley Mnozya, said when evaluating 2024/25 farming season that environmental conservation is among the their priorities, through which it has been establishing by-laws to sustain natural vegetation, mostly (natural) forests.

“It is agreed that every farmer should have atleast 500 trees on a tobacco hectare,” Mr Mnozya said recently.

He said that, since tobacco drying in Tabora relies on firewood, the process had contributed to deforestation, making tree planting essential for farmers.

The DG attributed the tree-plating success to some stakeholders like Japan Tobacco International and Alliance One support because have planted about 20 million trees in the past three years.

Similarly, to protect the environment, the government has set aside at least 4bn/- for the construction of modern tobacco drying facilities to curb tree-cutting in the region.

“The facilities will use only tree leaves for tobacco drying,” he said.

Additionally, the TTB has introduced tobacco seed varieties whose products require no firewood for drying.

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“Solar and electricity serve as alternatives, especially in Morogoro, Singida, Iringa and Mbeya regions,” he said.

Mr Selemani Kambuzi, Chairperson of Sikonge District Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society, said tree planting is an ongoing exercise, as trees not only support environmental conservation but also boost farmers’ incomes through timber and other uses.

He said trees also provide energy for tobacco drying without harming natural vegetation, stressing that tree planting is mandatory under the law for every tobacco producer.

Furthermore, according to TTB a total of 117 million kilogrammes were produced in the 2023/24 farming season, worth about 724bn/-.

This season some 183 million kilogrammes have been produced, valued at 1.3tri/-. The country exports between 95 and 97 per cent of total tobacco output per year.