ARET bemoans use of tobacco recycled seeds

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.