Johnson Progress

A devastating hailstorm has destroyed tobacco crops worth over US$4 million in Headlands, Zimbabwe, leaving farmers reeling from the loss.

The violent storm, which lasted just 10 minutes, has shredded 387 hectares of flourishing tobacco, mainly from large-scale commercial farms, and has sent shockwaves through the farming community.

According to Mr Denfrod Mutwiwa, a top tobacco producer and the country’s best tobacco grower last season, the destruction is catastrophic.

“At one of my leased farms, all 120 hectares of prime tobacco were shredded in less than 10 minutes, inflicting losses of about US$1 million,” he said, describing the loss as devastating.

Mr Mutwiwa, who had planted 330 hectares of tobacco on several farms, emphasized the importance of insurance for tobacco farmers.

“You cannot grow tobacco at large-scale without insurance because it is suicidal. Imagine 120 hectares of ripening tobacco gone in just 10 minutes how do you recover from that if you are not insured? It is suicide to put a lot of resources into a crop and avoid having it insured , it will all be wiped off in the twinkling of an eye,” he said.

The hailstorm has affected several top tobacco producers in the area, including Mr Felix Kamusasa, who lost 140 hectares with an estimated value of US$1.9 million.

Mrs Monica Chinamasa of Tsukumai Farm is another victim of the hailstorm, which has left many farmers counting heavy losses.

The destruction of the tobacco crops has highlighted the vulnerability of agriculture to extreme weather events, and the importance of insurance for farmers.

While most large-scale producers had insured their crops, small-scale farmers in the area were not as fortunate, and are facing significant losses.

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has not yet released an official statement on the impact of the hailstorm on the country’s tobacco production.

However, the farming community is bracing itself for a significant impact on this year’s tobacco harvest.

As farmers struggle to come to terms with the destruction, the incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in agriculture and the importance of preparedness for extreme weather events.

The farming community is hoping for support and assistance to help those affected by the hailstorm to recover from their losses.