Government targets to ban the wanton use of indigenous trees by small holder famers to cure tobacco by 2030 in a bid to conserve indigenous woodlands.
To enforce the planned phase-out of indigenous firewood, Government says it has begun to aggressively promote fuel-efficient curing technologies, use of coal and tree-planting initiatives.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) Congress 2026 in Victoria Falls, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, said the measures were aimed at reducing pressure on indigenous forests while sustaining tobacco production and protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
“About 135 000 predominantly smallholder farmers produce 85% of Zimbabwe’s tobacco, making sustainable curing methods critical to the long-term viability of the sector,” he said.
Dr Masuka said one of the key interventions was the adoption of more efficient curing technologies, including the rocket barn developed by Kutsaga, which can reduce firewood consumption by up to 50%.
He said Government was also encouraging farmers to switch to alternative fuels, particularly coal, to reduce reliance on indigenous trees.
“To encourage farmers to use more coal and move away from indigenous fuel, Government has waived the levy on coal,” Dr Masuka said.
The tobacco industry is also planting eucalyptus trees to establish alternative wood fuel sources and reduce the harvesting of indigenous trees for curing tobacco.
Dr Masuka said Government intended to begin phasing out the use of indigenous trees for tobacco curing during the 2027/2028 season.
He added that tobacco contractors had a critical role to play in accelerating the transition, given that between 93% and 94% of the crop is produced under contract farming arrangements.
Government is therefore encouraging contractors to incorporate alternative fuels and more efficient curing systems into their schemes, particularly those supporting smallholder farmers.
The interventions are intended to balance the continued growth of Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry with forest conservation, ensuring that farmers can maintain production while reducing the environmental impact of curing the crop.
The shift towards cleaner and more efficient curing methods is expected to make sustainable fuel use an increasingly important part of tobacco production, particularly as the country works to protect its natural resources and strengthen the long-term resilience of rural livelihoods.
