By Frank Kauteka Tembo
Agricultural
Research and Extension Trust (ARET) has expressed concern over the increased
use of uncertified tobacco seeds in the country which is contributing to poor
quality and little harvest of crop.
Anomalies
in the production of tobacco start during the nursery up to the time it reaches
the Auction Floors, a development that puts a lot of farmers earning little
despite heavy workload executed during the planting season.
The
observation and lamentation comes in amidst of tobacco sales season as some farmers
are still harvesting low yields of tobacco and of poor quality despite the
trust’s prior planting awareness campaigns in promotion of certified tobacco
seeds for quality and bumper yields.
“As
ARET, we work tirelessly ensuring that all tobacco farmers in the country earn
big fish out of their sweat but it is worrisome that our goal might not be
fulfilled if farmers do not follow new technologies given to them.” Lamented ARET
Extension Officer for the North Kad Kapachira Phiri.
The
Extension Officer noted with dismay that most farmers still earn little in the
tobacco production due to low quality tobacco, come about just because farming
technologies are ignored.
“The use of uncertified seeds well known as
“mbewu yakunyukuta” recycled seeds is greatly lowering yields of tobacco
because such seeds do not resist to unfavorable rainfall and hazardous weather
compared to certified seeds proved after various research and recommendations,”
said Phiri.
He
added that late uprooting of tobacco trees also contributes to the transfer of
diseases from one season to another, a situation that lowers down tobacco
production.
ARET
has since challenged that farmers who follow new farming technologies harvest
bumper yields despite weather calamities.
Agricultural
Research and Extension Trust (ARET) is one of institutions that operate in the
country with an aim of initiating and recommending farming technologies through
various researches.
