Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
More growers should take up production of the shisha tobacco varieties this season says the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) following better opportunities as exports of this variety can easily increase.
Shisha tobacco deliveries for the current season have so far reached over 100 000kg, a positive step towards transforming people’s livelihoods in the tobacco industry.
This type of tobacco is consumed using a device called a hookah or water pipe.
A hookah or waterpipe is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for heating or vaporising and then smoking the tobacco.
An individual pulls from a pipe, and then the smoke is passed through a water basin, often glass-based, before inhalation. It is exceptionally popular in the Middle East and the advent of the modern shisha varieties of tobacco in the last few decades has boosted the popularity.
The modern varieties are a thinner leaf and are milder, with less nicotine since the pipe produces more smoke with each puff. The variety still needs to be flue cured, but more carefully.
Farmers from different parts of Zimbabwe are selling shisha tobacco for the very first time in the country’s history and majority are willing to grow the crop in the next season.
TIMB public relations officer, Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe, said the target is to expand production in slow growing areas.
“This season has been for learning and development of a better shisha crop. With TIMB’s support, merchant Cavendish Lloyd is looking for adventurous, experienced and dedicated growers that seek to maximize their production by growing the highly profitable but low-cost shisha-type tobacco during the 2023-2024 season,” she said.
In the just finished production season, shisha was grown in Mashonaland East and in Karoi area of Mashonaland West.
Mrs Tsarwe said Cavendish Lloyd is targeting to have 1000 hectares of shisha tobacco for the coming production season. Cavendish Lloyd is the licensed contractor that is supporting the production of shisha and has agronomists who train interested farmers.
Latest statistics from TIMB indicate that 100 169 kg of shisha tobacco valued at US $318, 552 were so far sold.
Shisha tobacco requires a little over half as much fertiliser as other varieties and does not require topping making it cheaper to produce yet it has higher prices therefore, farmers stand to get more from shisha.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president Mr Victor Mariranyika also commended more farmers to grow shisha tobacco indicating that there is low cost of production adding that the prices offered at the floors is so far good.
‘’Shisha tobacco is easier to grow compared to flue-cured tobacco. It requires less fertiliser than flue-cured tobacco and even the prices we are happy with, so it’s good to grow the crop,” he said.
Recently when The Herald visited the tobacco floors , shisha tobacco farmers were so excited with the crop adding that the majority of them will improve hectarage in the next season.
A Mutorashanga farmer, Mr Moses Machine, said he is so far happy growing this type of tobacco adding that there are many benefits associated with the crop. Mr Machine said he is expecting to bring 400 bales to the floors.
“There are several advantages associated with growing this type of crop. Plant population will double the Virginia tobacco. Shisha uses less fertiliser.
“Since it is the first year we are not sure where the viability is but with time we are going to have a proper analysis.
“There is use of less labour and fertilisers. In terms of costs of production there is a difference compared to the Virginia one.
“There are plenty of good points but yes we may encounter challenges since it is the beginning,” he said.
A Marondera farmer Mr Jayson Scott said there was less nicotine in this type of tobacco and with the thinner leaf special handling is required.
“The tobacco needs very special attention because the plant or the leaf is very thin so if you don’t carefully handle it the leaf itself breaks. I hope to increase the hectarage,” he said.
Shisha production seeks to transform the tobacco industry, improve the livelihoods of farmers and boost the economy.