The Tobacco Association of Zambia says the industry has continued enhancing its sustainable tobacco production initiatives by implementing programs to mitigate child labor.
Speaking at the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) Africa Regional Congress in Lusaka, Thursday, Tobacco Association of Zambia President Zvhikonyo Mahombe, said the industry is making tobacco farming to be an essential component of agriculture in poverty alleviation.
And Mr. Mahombe said the industry is also providing tertiary scholarships for children, planting trees, and drilling boreholes from tobacco growing.
“We are also maintaining, building and renovating of schools on farms”. Said Mr. Mahombe.
And gracing the event, Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo Phiri said tobacco remains an important cash crop in the country’s economy.
Mr. Phiri added that tobacco is a source of employment and foreign exchange as it contributes about 2% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
The minister noted that the tobacco industry was not spared from the drought that hit the sub-region which affected majority of smallholder growers that depend on rainfall for their yields and quality.
The minister said this on a speech read on his behalf by Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Paul Mumba.
The International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) Africa Regional Congress is being held under the theme ” Farm Productivity”.