Source: Solar energy ideal for tobacco curing – herald
Nyasha Simbisai
Agriculture Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has urged farmers to consider using solar power for tobacco curing as part of efforts to adopt sustainable and energy-efficient technologies.
This comes as reliance on firewood for tobacco curing has remained a major environmental concern.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri said Zimbabwe’s abundant sunshine presents, an opportunity to explore renewable energy solutions such as solar-powered tobacco curing.
“We have an abundance of sunlight in this country and we are encouraging farmers to explore solar energy for curing. The challenge is maintaining temperatures at night, but that is something our scientists must continue working on,” he said.
Prof Jiri said alternative energy options such as gas were also being tested and could offer additional sustainable pathways for the sector.
“The increase in tobacco production is good for us because it ensures that farmers get money into their pockets. However, tobacco production depends heavily on energy for curing, which determines the colour, texture and quality of the leaf required by customers,” he said.
Prof Jiri said tobacco curing in Zimbabwe relied on energy sources such as coal and firewood, with the former offering a viable option but remaining costly due to transportation from mining areas to farms.
“Coal gives us the energy that we need for curing tobacco, but it is expensive and has to be transported to the farm gate. Because of that, many farmers resort to using firewood,” he said.
He warned that heavy reliance on firewood was contributing to deforestation, noting that large quantities of wood were required to cure the leaf.
“That is very devastating for the environment. Deforestation becomes a major issue because significant amounts of firewood are used during the curing process,” he said.
Prof Jiri said the industry had introduced several initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable tobacco production, including afforestation programmes supported by organisations such as the Sustainable Agriculture Trust.
Under the initiative, farmers are encouraged to establish woodlots alongside their tobacco fields.
“The recommendation is that for every hectare of tobacco planted, farmers should also plant an equivalent hectare of fast-growing trees such as eucalyptus to provide a sustainable source of curing wood,” he said.
Beyond afforestation, Prof Jiri said improving energy efficiency in tobacco curing barns remained a key priority.
“The curing barns themselves must be energy efficient regardless of the energy source being used,” he said.
At the policy level, the Government is also considering measures to discourage the use of firewood in tobacco curing while encouraging the adoption of more sustainable energy sources.
“We must ensure that those who continue using firewood for curing are penalised, while at the same time encouraging and motivating farmers who adopt cleaner and more efficient energy technologies,” he said.
Zimbabwe is one of the world’s leading producers of flue-cured tobacco, with the crop remaining a major contributor to export earnings and rural livelihoods.
However, authorities say balancing production growth with environmental sustainability will be critical to safeguarding the long-term future of the industry.
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