Chili and tobacco farming profit, cost, and project report (bird’s eye vs. flue-cured tobacco) Zimbabwe per hectare.
Below is the snapshot of these two crops in comparison to cash crops in relation to their betterment to the smallholder farmers’ incomes in Zimbabwe. Tobacco has its cash crop name, “golden leaf” whilst chili, “hot cash”.
| CHILI | TOBACCO | |
| Seedbed – harvesting(months) | 6 | 10 |
| Average production costs ($) | 1600 | 1500 |
| Average kg(s) | 3810 | 2052 |
| Average market prices | 2.15 | 2.40 |
| Average total revenue | 8191.50 | 4924.80 |
| Profit(atr-atc) | 6591.5 | 3424.8 |
| Cost reduction ways | Can perform well even in well-rotted manure and compost | – |
| Chances to add value | ü | n/a |
| Externalities | Food flavoring (P)Reduces inflammation improve heart health | DeforestationAnimal habit destruction. Heath effects at grading e.g. lung infections |
Source: own creation
Why is tobacco a cash crop?
Tobacco growing required a lot of hard work and labor, huge human capital was needed to work in the fields. It did not take the colonists long to realize that economic specialization would be the roadmap to success, and tobacco became a cash crop for the colony.
- In conclusion, chili showed to be more profitable to cultivate compared to tobacco, i.e. chili farmer’s profit doubles the profit of tobacco farmer by more than 100% in less months.
Prepared By Musikwi Jeriphanos / Musikwi AgriEcon Consultancy/Contact: jerymusikwi@gmail.com/0776557504
Doing great job