The impact of rainfall variability on rain-fed tobacco in Manicaland province of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of rainfall variability on tobacco production in Nyazura district of Manicaland in Zimbabwe between 1999 and 2009. Tobacco, which is the most important cash crop and a major earner of foreign currency in Zimbabwe, is thought to be one of the crops severely affected by climate change especially in Nyazura district. However, no study has been carried out to assess the relationship between tobacco production records and climate change especially rainfall variability over the years. Questionnaires and interviews were used in data collection. Questionnaires were distributed to farmers and Agricultural Research Extension (AREX) officers were interviewed. Secondary data was obtained from the Meteorological Department, the Central Statistical Office, and the Tobacco Sales Floor. Rainfall data from the district was correlated with tobacco yields data from the same district. The result from the correlation co-efficient showed there is a positive correlation between tobacco yields and the amount of rainfall. The study showed that among other causes, rainfall variability is a major factor influencing the decline in yield and farmers are very much aware of climate variability in their district. There is need for resource mobilization to fund community-based projects such as borehole drilling, irrigation, and cultivation of tobacco cultivars which are drought tolerant.