Hailstorm destroys tobacco crop

A Beatrice tobacco farmer has lost his crop which had potential to earn him thousands of dollars after a hailstorm hit some parts of Beatrice.

Mr Mutami Zishiri of Albion Farm registered a loss of between 60 and 70 percent of his 12-hectare tobacco crop to the hailstorm that hit the area last week.

“My crop was destroyed at 10 leaf stage and usually it grows to 18 leaves. So all the 10 leaves are a write-off and I am now banking on the remaining eight leaves, which are yet to develop,” he said.

The farmer said he lost approximately US$48 000.

Mr Zishiri had insured his crop and was definite he was going to be compensated.

“I had insured my crop through Tobacco Hail Insurance and the officials have since visited to assess the damage levels. The company will only compensate after a second assessment at topping stage,” he said.

Mr Zishiri had planted early and had a healthy crop. Now that the crop has been affected by hailstorm, Mr Zishiri said it was more susceptible to diseases and required special attention, which may mean pumping more money.

Last year, he had his 30 hectares of tobacco affected by hailstorm again, but it was not as severe as this time.

The farmer advised fellow farmers to insure their crop in case of natural disasters.

“There is nothing a farmer can do to prevent hailstorms so insuring the crop is the only solution,” he said.

Hailstorms have been one of the many seasonal hazards encountered by tobacco growers.

Last year, scores of tobacco farmers lost millions of dollars to hailstorm and most of them had not insured the crop.

In some cases, farmers may also experience crop failure and if they take up insurance policies against such developments, they will be adequately covered against losses.

Agricultural experts have from time-to-time called on tobacco growers to insure their crop to cushion them from the effects of natural disasters such as floods, hailstorms and droughts.