Published: 12 hours ago

Tobacco authorities are stepping up efforts to implement a nationwide biometric security system for farmers as Zimbabwe seeks to enhance transparency in the sector and safeguard growers while consolidating recent production gains.

The move follows a record-breaking season in which the country's tobacco production surged to 352 million kilogrammes - the highest output in history.

Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chief executive Emmanuel Matsvaire said the regulatory body had launched outreach programmes across tobacco-growing regions to boost production while ensuring that every registered farmer is captured under the biometric system.

"These outreach programmes are not limited to biometric enrolment, but also include farmer training on climate-smart production, responsible marketing and the dangers of side-marketing," Matsvaire said.

He explained that biometric registration was a core strategy to strengthen accountability in the sector, adding that mobile registration teams were being deployed to remote areas to ensure inclusivity.

"At the same time, TIMB is running an awareness campaign on all media platforms educating farmers on the importance of biometric registration," Matsvaire noted. "We have also partnered contractors so that biometric verification becomes a requirement for contracts, loans and inputs — ensuring only genuine growers benefit."

Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association president George Seremwe welcomed the initiative, saying it was strengthening farmer protection.

"We are making follow-ups to ensure contracting companies adhere to the TIMB compliance framework so that our members are not short-changed," Seremwe said.

According to the latest TIMB data, Mashonaland Central retained its position as the country's top tobacco producer with 118,03 million kg — accounting for 33,5% of national output. Mashonaland West was second with 104,33 million kg (29,6%), followed by Mashonaland East with 75,02 million kg (21,3%).

The biometric system is expected to improve efficiency in the multi-billion-dollar industry and align the sector with the government's vision of building a transparent, sustainable agricultural economy.
- Newsday

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