TIMB to waive 0,75pc afforestation charge

Published: 2 hours ago

The Government has instructed the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) to immediately waive the 0.75 percent afforestation levy for tobacco farmers who do not use firewood in curing, in a major policy shift aimed at accelerating environmental sustainability in the sector.

The move is part of a broader strategy to align Zimbabwe's tobacco industry with global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, as the country targets the complete elimination of firewood-based curing by 2029.

Currently, farmers pay a blanket 0.75 percent levy on gross earnings, funds which are channelled into reforestation programmes and have accumulated to about US$50 million in the Consolidated Revenue Fund. However, the system has not differentiated between farmers using firewood and those already adopting cleaner curing methods such as coal, solar energy or air-curing.

Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka said the waiver is intended to reward sustainable practices and encourage faster adoption of alternative curing technologies.

"We actually want to transition as an industry so that by 2029 we will not be using firewood for curing," he said, adding that the policy is aimed at reducing environmental damage while improving access to premium markets.

TIMB chief executive Emmanuel Matsvaire confirmed that a verification system is being rolled out to identify eligible farmers, with those in Matebeleland already exempt due to their reliance on air-cured Burley tobacco.

"In other regions, we are identifying those not using firewood to formally exclude them from the levy," he said.

The policy shift comes amid growing pressure from international buyers who are increasingly prioritising sustainably produced tobacco and reducing reliance on carbon-intensive supply chains.

A recent study published in January 2025 by Springer Nature found that tobacco production contributes significantly to deforestation in Zimbabwe, estimating that it accounts for about 15 percent of forest loss. The research warned that continued expansion without sustainable interventions could worsen environmental degradation.

In response, authorities have intensified efforts to promote alternative energy solutions, including the establishment of eucalyptus-based energy woodlots by the Forestry Commission. Since 2005, these initiatives have been supported by organisations such as the Sustainable Afforestation Association, which has planted over 22 000 hectares of trees across several provinces.

Despite these interventions, challenges remain, particularly for smallholder farmers who face high costs in adopting solar curing systems, as well as limited access to water and high seedling mortality rates in woodlot projects.

Government says the levy waiver is expected to accelerate the transition toward greener curing methods while ensuring Zimbabwe remains competitive in high-value global tobacco markets.
- the herald

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