The Zimbabwe Tobacco Research Council recently recommended that tobacco farmers in the country pay attention to the prevention and control of tobacco diseases and pests.
The committee noted that if not managed properly, pests and diseases can significantly reduce tobacco yields and quality. There are currently three main foliar diseases to be concerned about – angular leaf spot, frog leaf spot and Alternaria leaf spot. In addition, heavy rains have brought challenges to tobacco cultivation, such as strengthening weed control.
George Seremwe, president of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association, said: "Heavy rains can wash elements such as nitrogen and potassium out of the crop root zone, making these elements unavailable to the crop." Victor Mariranyika, president of the Tobacco Farmers Union Trust, said: "Continued rains tend to This can lead to excessive soil moisture levels, which can lead to crop nutrient losses and poor leaf quality.”
Tobacco is Zimbabwe's main agricultural export.
