Staff Reporter

Tobacco research group Kutsaga has released four new climate smart tobacco varieties which can be planted in areas that where traditionally not growing the plant over the past years.

The new tobacco genetic varieties are T78, T79, T80, and T81.

These varieties can be grown in areas such as Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland North, Gokwe North, Gokwe South and Matabeleland South which are characterised by low rainfall, high temperatures, and dry conditions

Traditionally tobacco production was concentrated to the north of the country in Karoi, Doma, Hurungwe, Mhangura , central parts of the country including Harare, Beatrice and Mvurwi and to the eastern parts of the country. 

According to Kutsaga plant breeder Francis Mukoyi said the new genetics which are trials to climate change are drought-hardy. 

"The parents of the hybrids were chosen for a fast-growing character that ensures that 18-19 reapable leaves are attained in the shortest time and thus can escape drought and for being drought-hardy through measurements of physiological processes that maintain the integrity of the plant’s photosynthetic apparatus functioning under severe stresses," he said. 

The four new varieties are being issued on a limited-release and will be officially released after three years.

Mukoyi added that growers in the traditional regions are also expected to benefit from use of these genetics as a management tool for double cropping and maximum use of farm resources such as barns.

This season the country is receiving erratic and lower rainfall patterns prompted by El Nino conditions which is affecting Southern Africa as a result of climate change.