By Tatenda Gapa

Zimbabwe is one of the largest producers of tobacco leaf in Africa and the world’s fourth-largest producer of flue-cured tobacco, after China, Brazil and the US.
The country’s tobacco exports once accounted for 20 percent of the world’s total flue-cured tobacco, the main ingredient in cigarettes.
The golden leaf has the best economic returns per hectare among the major crops grown in the country.
Tobacco has become one of the cushions supporting the formerly impoverished subsistent farmers.
Income from tobacco has been used by growers to develop farms, venture into other agro-sectors such as cattle production as well as procuring irrigation equipment.
The harvesting and curing of tobacco has commenced in most tobacco growing regions for farmers who used irrigation.
It is important for farmers to take great care of the crop during harvesting as it is delicate and losses can be incurred by poor handling.
At this stage the crop is very fragile and mishandling leads to damages that decrease value of the crop.
Farmers must follow the correct method in curing and baling to preserve quality of the leaf and guarantee favourable prices at the auction floors.
The marketing of the golden leaf usually begins in March.
Farmers play a key role in ensuring their crop attain the top grades.
A superior tobacco leaf is long, soft to touch and it should be orange or yellow in colour.
Most farmers depend on firewood to cure their tobacco but coal can also be used for those who can afford it.
The process of curing tobacco takes at least seven days.
Farmers should ensure that their crop is cured at the appropriate and recommended temperatures depending on the stages of the curing process.
After curing, the golden leaf is stored and then graded.
Farmers should put the crop in storage under correct temperatures.
When high humidity is experienced, growers must ensure the crop does not mould as this reduces the quality of the crop.
Once the crop is graded it can then be baled.
Grease from the baling box screw must not get into contact with the crop.
Tobacco meant for sale should not be transported together with diesel or any other fuel as this may contaminate the leaf.
Any tobacco that is contaminated by fuel is likely to be withdrawn from sale.
To promote uniformity, leaf from different fields, different reapings and different barns should be kept separate.
Tobacco may be baled as tied-leaf, straight-laid-loose-leaf, clean graded strips or clean graded scrap.
Growers should never mix the forms.
Farmers are reminded that graded tobacco leaves less than 18cm in length may be baled as loose leaf.
Very short low stalk types may be difficult to straight-lay and farmers are recommended to put every effort in presenting the tobacco as neatly as possible.
Growers are also reminded that oversize butts may be disqualified on appeal.
Butt size should be at least 25 – 28 mm.
The maximum bale dimensions are 61 cm x 86 cm x 61 cm. Growers who deliver bales whose dimensions are in excess of these are cautioned that such bales will be closed prior to sale and returned to the grower for re-handling.
A sheet of the normal bale inner wrap should separate the grades in the bale and no other material may be used for separation purposes.
If tobacco is harvested properly farmers will not be found wanting.
The dangers associated with harvesting are known and farmers must be prepared for it and not be taken by surprise.
It is critical to adhere to best practises to avoid unnecessary loses.