According to Kutsaga Research, tobacco farmers face a serious threat from Fusarium wilt and root rot disease. Their experts noticed this soil fungus causing problems across many farms recently. The disease damages plants and significantly reduces harvests. Around the world, farmers lose about 20 percent of their tobacco crop to this disease, but Zimbabwe only saw occasional small outbreaks before.
Scientists found at least seven different Fusarium species attacking tobacco plants throughout Zimbabwe. Research shows the dangerous F. falciforme type has spread widely across tobacco and potato fields nationwide. Plants hit by this disease show yellow leaves that quickly dry up and die. The entire plant becomes stunted, loses leaves, and eventually dies completely.
You might notice these symptoms on just one side of a plant or even one-half of a leaf. Young leaves often show clear veins, while older bottom leaves droop downward. Inside the plant, tissues turn chocolate-brown or purple-brown, starting from the roots and moving upward. This discoloration eventually appears on the outside of green stalks, helping farmers identify the problem.
Kutsaga warns farmers against keeping infected plant remains from previous growing seasons. Moving contaminated soil or water spreads the disease further. The fungus loves warm, humid weather and sandy-loam soils. It causes worse damage when farmers plant tobacco in the same fields year after year. Root damage from pests creates openings where fungus enters plants easily. The disease spreads fastest at 28 degrees Celsius with humidity above 85 percent.
Farm experts recommend fighting this threat through multiple methods—rotating crops, applying chemicals, controlling soil pests, and keeping fields clean. Kutsaga has started testing various fungicides against the disease for next season. They also began breeding tobacco varieties that resist both this disease and black shank. They ask all farmers to check their fields regularly for early warning signs.
The Zimbabwe government created a tobacco industry plan in 2021 aiming for sustainable production of 300 million kilograms yearly. They want to build a $5 billion industry through better local funding, increased productivity, and more processing of raw tobacco into cigarettes for export. These efforts should create jobs, increase foreign currency earnings, and raise farmer incomes as part of Vision 2030 goals for a prosperous society.
Scientists found at least seven different Fusarium species attacking tobacco plants throughout Zimbabwe. Research shows the dangerous F. falciforme type has spread widely across tobacco and potato fields nationwide. Plants hit by this disease show yellow leaves that quickly dry up and die. The entire plant becomes stunted, loses leaves, and eventually dies completely.
You might notice these symptoms on just one side of a plant or even one-half of a leaf. Young leaves often show clear veins, while older bottom leaves droop downward. Inside the plant, tissues turn chocolate-brown or purple-brown, starting from the roots and moving upward. This discoloration eventually appears on the outside of green stalks, helping farmers identify the problem.
Kutsaga warns farmers against keeping infected plant remains from previous growing seasons. Moving contaminated soil or water spreads the disease further. The fungus loves warm, humid weather and sandy-loam soils. It causes worse damage when farmers plant tobacco in the same fields year after year. Root damage from pests creates openings where fungus enters plants easily. The disease spreads fastest at 28 degrees Celsius with humidity above 85 percent.
Farm experts recommend fighting this threat through multiple methods—rotating crops, applying chemicals, controlling soil pests, and keeping fields clean. Kutsaga has started testing various fungicides against the disease for next season. They also began breeding tobacco varieties that resist both this disease and black shank. They ask all farmers to check their fields regularly for early warning signs.
The Zimbabwe government created a tobacco industry plan in 2021 aiming for sustainable production of 300 million kilograms yearly. They want to build a $5 billion industry through better local funding, increased productivity, and more processing of raw tobacco into cigarettes for export. These efforts should create jobs, increase foreign currency earnings, and raise farmer incomes as part of Vision 2030 goals for a prosperous society.
