TOBACCO farmers are calling for the afforestation levy to be ring-fenced, a move meant to ensure environmental sustainability and economic growth.
The farmers want transparency and accountability in how the levy is used, with clear reporting frameworks and measurable ecological indicators.
This came out during deliberations on Thursday during the inaugural joint Forestry Indaba hosted by Environment Climate and Wildlife as well as Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministries held under the theme Sustainable Forestry and Tobacco Production.
Farmers revealed that they are concerned about insecurity in curing wood supply, rising costs and limited visibility into levy
utilisation.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association president George Seremwe proposed a change of reforms.
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“The afforestation levy represents a progressive policy instrument. Its effectiveness now depends on transparency, scale alignment, inclusion and measurable ecological outcomes,” he said.
“Let this indaba transition the discussion from contribution to measurable impact, from deduction to development and from compliance to competitiveness.”
Seremwe added that farmers support sustainability, but need transparency and accountability in levy utilisation.
“Without visibility into the environmental return on their financial contribution, confidence in the mechanism weakens.”
The levy, introduced in 2015, aims to internalise environmental costs associated with wood fuel use.
Proposed reforms include annual environmental performance reports, farmer representation in allocation committees, and blended forestry financing mechanisms.