HARARE – Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry has reduced firewood consumption in curing operations by as much as 50 percent through improved technologies, as the government prepares to phase out the use of indigenous trees in one of the country’s most important agricultural export sectors.
Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka announced the progress at the CORESTA Congress 2026 in Victoria Falls, highlighting efforts to address the environmental impact of tobacco production while protecting an industry that supports thousands of rural households.
The reforms include the introduction of more energy-efficient curing barns, alternative fuel sources and policy incentives designed to reduce dependence on indigenous timber.
Research organisation Kutsanga has developed a rocket barn that improves heat efficiency during tobacco curing, potentially reducing the amount of wood required to process harvested leaves.
Masuka said the government intends to begin phasing out indigenous tree use during the 2027–2029 tobacco seasons, giving growers and contractors time to adopt alternative curing technologies.
Authorities have also waived the coal levy to encourage the use of alternative fuels, although the policy raises questions about how Zimbabwe will balance reduced deforestation with the environmental consequences of fossil-fuel consumption.
The transition is particularly significant for smallholder farmers, who dominate Zimbabwe’s tobacco production but often face financial constraints when investing in modern curing infrastructure.
Approximately 135,000 farmers, predominantly smallholders, account for 85 percent of national tobacco output, making the affordability of new technologies central to the government’s environmental objectives.
For many growers, traditional wood-fired curing remains attractive because of its accessibility and relatively low upfront costs, even where the longer-term environmental consequences are substantial.
Kutsanga board chairman Aaron Denenga said the organisation was working with tobacco contractors and government departments to promote improved curing technologies and educate growers about reducing firewood consumption.
The collaboration places tobacco contracting companies at the centre of the transition, given their role in providing agricultural inputs, financing and technical assistance to contracted farmers.
Wider adoption of energy-efficient barns could reduce pressure on indigenous forests while improving production efficiency, particularly if lower fuel consumption translates into reduced operating costs.
However, the reported 50 percent reduction does not necessarily mean that total firewood consumption across Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry has fallen by the same proportion. The overall environmental impact will depend on how widely the technologies are adopted and changes in national tobacco production.
The planned restrictions also present an economic challenge.
Farmers unable to afford new barns or alternative fuels could face higher production costs, potentially affecting profitability and competitiveness in international tobacco markets.
For policymakers, the priority will be ensuring that environmental regulations are accompanied by accessible financing, practical technology and sufficient supplies of alternative energy.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry remains an important source of agricultural export earnings and rural employment, but its continued expansion has intensified scrutiny of the environmental costs associated with curing.
The government’s proposed transition signals a more deliberate attempt to reconcile commercial tobacco production with forest conservation.
Its success will depend on whether technological improvements can be delivered at a cost that smallholder growers can sustain, without shifting the environmental burden from deforestation to other forms of energy consumption.
