Harare (New Ziana) -The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) will on Friday next week engage stakeholders in Manicaland province to discuss the sustainable production of the crop, also known as the golden leaf.
Issues to be discussed include the 2023 tobacco selling season, which is scheduled to open on March 8 this year.
Other issues include child labour, afforestation, efficient curing systems and safe working environment.
Most new farmers do not have mechanized equipment both for planting and harvesting their tobacco and as a result, they engage children in order cut on labour costs.
Poverty has been identified as a major driver for children seeking employment on farms as some of them will be raising school fees as well as money to buy food, with the farmers taking advantage of their situation.
The TIMB has been carrying out campaigns in tobacco growing areas to raise awareness on child labor and to encourage parents to take care of their children.
“Our message is children belong in school, not in the fields. After school children should engage in meaningful extracurricular activities like sports,” it said.
Manicaland is the fourth-largest producer of leaf tobacco, after Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East provinces.
New Ziana
