Itai Ndongwe
HARARE – The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has urged farmers to immediately destroy tobacco stalks left in fields after harvesting, warning that failure to do so increases the spread of pests and diseases that threaten future crops.
The call comes as Zimbabwe’s 2026 tobacco marketing season reaches peak levels, with 266 million kilogrammes of tobacco sold for more than US$673 million as of May 21, 2026.
After harvesting, many farmers leave tobacco stalks standing in their fields. However, TIMB says the stalks provide breeding grounds for pests, viruses, diseases and nematodes that survive into the next farming season and attack new crops.
Under the Plant Pests and Diseases Act [Chapter 19:08], all tobacco growers are required to destroy tobacco stalks by May 15 each year. Farmers who fail to comply risk fines or imprisonment.
TIMB said proper stalk destruction involves uprooting the entire plant and removing all living roots from the soil to create a “dead period” where no tobacco plants remain in the ground.
“This breaks the life cycle of pests and diseases and helps protect the next crop,” said TIMB
The board warned that leaving stalks in fields results in higher pest infestations, faster disease spread and increased chemical costs for farmers.
“In the long term, some pests develop resistance to chemicals, forcing growers to use higher dosages and spend more money to achieve the same results,” said TIMB
The regulator described stalk destruction as one of the cheapest and most effective methods of pest and disease control available to farmers.
TIMB also said healthy fields contribute to better tobacco quality and improved market prices. Diseases such as Tobacco Mosaic Virus affect leaf colour, texture and quality, reducing the competitiveness of Zimbabwean tobacco on the market.
“As the saying goes, ‘Fodya yakanaka inozvitengesa yoga,’ said the board
Farmers were encouraged to work closely with extension officers from the Agricultural Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS), Plant Quarantine Services and TIMB field officers to ensure stalk destruction is done properly.
TIMB also reminded growers that June 1 is the earliest legal date for establishing tobacco seedbeds, warning that early planting exposes seedlings to pests and diseases.
The board further encouraged crop rotation after stalk destruction to improve soil health and naturally reduce pest and disease cycles.
TIMB said the success of Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry depends on farmers following good agricultural practices and complying with industry regulations.
“One farm with undestroyed stalks can affect neighbouring farms and entire communities,” the board warned.
