The impact of the implementation of the ‘dead season policy’ on market access for Zimbabwean Tobacco

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the implementation and impacts of the tobacco ‘dead season policy’ in combating trans-boundary pests for market access in Zimbabwe using the Development Assistance Committees of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development program evaluation criteria of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. The evaluation employed a mixed-methods approach to collect qualitative and quantitative data using online questionnaires triangulated by data collected from secondary data sources, Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions.  A sample size of 2000 online Microsoft tool questionnaires were administered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Based on the majority (65%) of the respondents, the tobacco ‘dead season policy’ is achieving its intended goals. Over the past 14 years (2011-2024), there was 100% phytosanitary compliance for the tobacco plant products exported from Zimbabwe. The ‘tobacco dead season policy’ remains effective, efficient and relevant regarding market access and plant bio-security. In comparison with the tobacco ‘dead season policy’, other plant products not managed by a similar policy exhibited a 0.13 percent non-compliance rate during the same period. However, the study revealed that the use of the policy brought in some negative impacts of corruption by the enforcement agencies, as depicted by the 56% of the respondents triangulated with the results from the Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions.  While the policy must be continued, its review in line with climate change associated with weather variabilities and technological advancement in pest management is critical for the control of trans-boundary pests associated with crossborder traffic. 

Key words: Plant biosecurity, transboundary pests, market access, tobacco dead season policy, phytosanitary evaluation