A quiet revolution is taking place in Matabeleland’s tobacco fields, where farmers are not only embracing a new cash crop but also adopting a sustainable curing technology that is transforming livelihoods, particularly for women.
At Woolendale in Umguza’s Ward 17, first-time tobacco farmer Priscilla Musa Sibanda is among a growing number of small-scale farmers discovering the potential of the golden leaf.
Sibanda planted four hectares of tobacco in November last year and says the results have exceeded her expectations.
“It’s amazing. This is our first crop and it is doing so well. Tobacco needs a lot of focus and dedication because of pests and weeds but if you give it the attention it needs, the results are very rewarding,” she said in an interview with Cite.
Sibanda believes tobacco could become a game-changer for communities across Matabeleland where farmers often struggle with erratic rainfall.
“This crop requires less water compared to many others and it can grow in almost any soil. I encourage farmers in this region to try it because it has a reliable market,” she said.
The recent establishment of tobacco auction floors in Matabeleland has also made the crop more attractive to farmers who previously had to travel long distances to sell their produce.
But perhaps the biggest shift is happening in the way tobacco is cured.
For decades, farmers relied on firewood to dry their tobacco leaves a labor-intensive process that contributed to deforestation and placed a heavy burden on women who often had to search for firewood in nearby forests.
Now a new sun-powered greenhouse curing system is changing that.
The technology traps solar heat inside specially designed greenhouses, allowing tobacco to dry naturally without the need for firewood.
“Long back we used to cut firewood to cure tobacco but this new technology is a real revolution. The heat inside the greenhouse is just as good as any fire and the tobacco dries beautifully,” she explains.
Beyond curing tobacco, the solar greenhouse has brought unexpected benefits for women in the community.
“For us as women, we can also dry our vegetables there. Even if there is a cold spell for a whole week, inside it is warm and the produce dries well. It has made our lives easier because we no longer have to spend days in the bush collecting firewood.”
Another new tobacco farmer in the area, Reed Sola of Plot 32 has also embraced the crop after facing challenges in maize farming.
Contracted by Atlas Agriculture, Sola started his first tobacco crop in October last year on a one-hectare piece of land.
“I decided to venture into tobacco after struggling with pests and weeds in maize. Maize also pays much less compared to tobacco, so I wanted something that could improve my income.”
On Thursday, Atlas Agriculture together with the Tobacco Marketing Board (TMB) held a field day at Sola’s homestead to promote sustainable tobacco value chains in the ward.
The event also showcased the natural solar curing technology as a cleaner and more efficient alternative to traditional firewood curing.
According to the Tobacco Marketing Board (TMB), interest in tobacco farming in Matabeleland has surged in recent years.
In 2022, the province had only 18 registered tobacco growers.
Today, that number has grown to 330 farmers cultivating about 1 000 hectares.
The expansion is spreading beyond Umguza.
In Plumtree, new farmer Sipho Ndlovu says the solar curing technology is one of the main reasons he decided to venture into tobacco.
“When we saw that tobacco could now be cured without cutting trees, it gave us confidence. This technology protects our environment and also reduces the labour required, especially for women in our households.”
Similarly, in Filabusi, farmer Thandeka Zhou says the crop is already changing the economic prospects of many rural families.
“Tobacco is opening new opportunities for small farmers. With proper support and technologies like solar curing, even women can manage production more easily while also generating income for their families.”
As more farmers in Matabeleland adopt tobacco and sustainable curing methods, the crop is increasingly being seen not just as a profitable venture but as a pathway toward economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.
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