Impact of tobacco growing and curing on indigenous woody vegetation : The case of Choma district, Zambia

Deforestation in Zambia is a source of concern to various stakeholders. Agriculture,
which includes tobacco growing and its curing, is cited as a major factor, among others,contributing to woodland clearance. Tobacco production is associated with deforestation because it requires large quantities of fuelwood in the curing process without any legal requirement for the growers to replace the woody vegetation that is consumed.The study therefore, was an assessment of the impact of tobacco growing and curing on indigenous woody vegetation in Choma district, Zambia. The impact was ascertained by examining the size of tobacco fields and the quantities of wood used in the curing process.Quantitative and qualitative types of data were used in the study. These were obtained from questionnaires, unstructured interviews and field surveys. Woodland clearance was
determined using black and white panchromatic aerial photographs for 1960, 1980 and 1990. District tobacco production figures were used to approximate woodland clearance which was directly as a result of tobacco production.Data was analysed to establish the relationship between the quantity of cured tobacco and the amount of land cleared annually. The study revealed that the growing of flue-cured Virginia tobacco contributes to deforestation in the area by more than fifty percent. At this
rate, tobacco production poses a serious environmental problem. The study, therefore,
suggests the introduction of central curing facilities and well-planned reforestation
programmes where there will be full community involvement as well as collaboration among other stakeholders in trying to avert further woodland loss.