Record-breaking national tobacco yield smashes output target

Tobacco production this year has exceeded the 300 million kg annual target set by the Government of Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan.

As at day 74 of sales, 309 million kg of flue-cured Virginia have been sold, compared with 212 million kg on the same day last year. In 2023, sales fell tantalisingly short of the 300 million kg target, finishing at 296 million kg.

Amidst this milestone achievement, the Tobacco Research Board, (in 2023, rebranded to Kutsaga, For productivity, for sustainability), recently held an event to celebrate its own milestone achievement, its 75 year anniversary.

Themed "Beyond 75 Years, Kutsaga Innovation and Agricultural Excellency in the Next 25 Years,” the research symposium was held over two days and comprised an innovations challenge paired with a high-profile symposium.

A cornerstone of our tobacco industry since 1950, Kutsaga has developed more than 70 high yielding, disease resistant tobacco varieties, which have gained worldwide demand for style and flavour.

The symposium attracted distinguished participants from across the agricultural and tobacco sectors. Government representation was led by Hon. Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Prof. Obert Jiri. The TRB leadership was well represented through Board Chairman, Aaron Denenga, CEO Dr Frank Magama, and other board members and management staff.

Academic partnerships were highlighted through the participation of University of Zimbabwe, while industry representation included TIMB Board representatives, tobacco merchants Tobacco Leaf Exporters Association and farmers' union representatives Zimbabwe Tobacco Association were also both at the occasion.

The event also welcomed international delegates from the Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET) in Malawi, the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA), and Zambian counterparts, demonstrating the regional significance of the occasion.

Innovation challenge

A significant highlight of the first day was the Hackathon Innovation Challenge themed "Beyond our 75 years: Kutsaga Innovation and Agricultural Excellency in the next 25 years." The event showcased creative solutions from students, startups, and young innovators, featuring smart agriculture tools, bio-based alternatives, digital farming platforms, and other transformative agricultural technologies.

The Innovation Challenge proved so successful that the TRB Board said it would consider making it an annual fixture, with attractive seed funding provided to winners.

On day 2, TRB Board chairman, Aaron Denenga emphasised Kutsaga's evolution from a statutory body to a "national asset" whose work is "woven into the economic DNA of Zimbabwe." He highlighted the institution's remarkable legacy achievements, including the development of over 70 tobacco varieties, the training of thousands of scientists, agronomists, technicians, and students, and the execution of numerous collaborative research projects over the decades.

The chairman outlined Kutsaga's transformation into a hybrid research and innovation hub that has successfully expanded beyond tobacco to encompass industrial hemp, chia, and Irish potatoes, along with high-value derivative products, biopharmaceutical and biosystems innovation, and rural industrialisation initiatives supporting youth-led “agripreneurship”.

“This diversification strategy represents a deliberate effort to build resilience and expand the institution's impact footprint while maintaining its core tobacco research excellence,” he noted.

Governance excellence was a key theme in Denenga's address, as he emphasised how the Board has ensured alignment with national frameworks including Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), while driving seed autonomy and institutional diversification. The Board's role as active architects rather than passive observers has been crucial in building institutional resilience and ensuring continued relevance in Zimbabwe's agricultural landscape.

Kutsaga CEO, Dr. Frank Magama, highlighted Kutsaga's current achievements and future vision, noting the strong tobacco volume rebound.

Dr Magama emphasised the institution's innovation focus, which includes the incorporation of 4IR tools and AI in research execution, biopharming projects of national interest, and the development of climate-smart agricultural practices. The diversification portfolio has expanded to include medicinal cannabis, industrial hemp, chia, and horticultural crops, creating new opportunities for farmers while building a more resilient and diversified agricultural economy.

Dr. Magama also stressed the importance of a partnership approach, emphasising collaboration with universities, science councils, private sector actors, and development agencies to ensure that research translates into commercially viable value chains. This collaborative framework has been instrumental in achieving recent successes, including the institution's recognition through the 2024 Global Golden Leaf Awards in Athens, Greece.

The Hon. Dr Anxious Masuka provided both personal reflection and strategic direction, drawing from his unique experience as former TRB Director. Dr. Masuka recalled his leadership during the Land Reform era, when he implemented commercialisation strategies for institutional sustainability, created the Kutsaga Seed Authority (KSA) for seed production autonomy, and initiated diversification efforts including Hypericum flowers and Irish potatoes production.

Dr. Masuka outlined TRB's scientific journey across seven decades, beginning with the foundation years of the 1950s and 1960s that focused on understanding local climatic conditions and developing locally adapted varieties. The 1970s through 1990s period was characterised by significant strides in breeding for yield, quality, and disease resistance, cementing Zimbabwe's reputation as a producer of world-class tobacco. The 2000s brought adaptation challenges during the Land Reform Programme, requiring renewed focus on training and extension services, while the period from 2010s to present has emphasised climate change adaptation and sustainability.

Diversification

Kutsaga has successfully expanded beyond tobacco research to encompass a comprehensive portfolio of alternative crops including industrial hemp, chia, Irish potatoes, and medicinal cannabis. The institution has also ventured into value-added products such as biopharmaceuticals and biosystems innovations, while integrating advanced technologies including AI tools, 4IR technologies, and digital platforms into its research and operational framework.

International recognition

Kutsaga’s excellence was recognised internationally through the 2024 Global Golden Leaf Awards, building on a legacy that includes hosting the CORESTA World Tobacco Scientific Congress in both 1963 and 1994. The institution's regional leadership extends across Southern and Eastern Africa, with collaborative relationships that strengthen the continent's agricultural research capacity.

Next 25-year roadmap

The symposium established clear priorities for 2025-2050, focusing on climate-resilient variety development, sustainable production practices, value chain transformation, technology-driven innovation, youth engagement and entrepreneurship, and continued international market leadership.