Growing Tobacco Sustainably in Tolwe: How Johan Schoeman Uses realIPM for Resilient, Regenerative Farming

Searching for Better Ways to Farm

Around four years ago, Johan found himself questioning the long-term viability of conventional chemicals. Globally, he noticed increased scrutiny around chemical use — especially red-band products — and began exploring alternative methods that could reduce chemical load without compromising crop performance.
That search led him to realIPM.

Curious, though initially skeptical of biologicals, Johan decided to try Real Metarhizium 69. Today, he credits a combination of realIPM products for helping him successfully manage key pests such as Potato Tuber Moth and Tuta absoluta, with additional support in controlling American Bollworm, which remains an ongoing challenge.

A True Game-Changer: Real Trichoderma

Of all the tools he has adopted, Johan says Real Trichoderma has made the biggest impact, calling it nothing short of a game changer.
Applied through drip irrigation, Real Trichoderma has significantly improved both soil and plant health. These gains have been transformative:

Johan now harvests tobacco every two years instead of every four.

This improvement fits neatly into his tight and thoughtful crop-rotation system:

1. Tobacco
2. Cucurbits
3. Cow candy fodder (fed to livestock or ploughed back as organic matter)
4. One year fallow

This regenerative cycle, supported by biological inputs, continues to build long-term soil vitality, something that Johan values as much as the crop itself.

Protecting Soil Life by Rethinking Weed Control

When fields return to production, most farmers might reach for herbicides. Johan instead prioritises microbial life. He uses a tractor with a shallow plough to loosen the most prevalent weeds, which are then removed by hand. It’s more time-consuming, but he believes the payoff in soil health is worth it.

Helping Crops Face Extreme Heat

Tolwe’s temperatures can soar above 40°C for days at a time. During these heat waves, Johan relies on Integrate, which he has found remarkably effective in helping his crops cope with environmental stress.

Everyday Challenges on a Tobacco Farm

Tobacco farming is an intricate balance of timing, weather, and crop care. Johan faces several challenges, including:

• Excessive rain causing fermentation
• Too much or too little humidity (ideal is above 10%)
• Physical damage from pests, weather, baboons, or handling
• Persistent pest pressure from Potato Tuber Moth

To stay ahead of issues, Johan’s scouts walk the fields daily during the early weeks of plant development. If pest pressure exceeds acceptable thresholds and a knockdown is necessary, he will use chlorantraniliprole, a systemic anthranilic diamide insecticide, within an integrated approach.

The Skill and Art of Harvesting Tobacco

Harvesting tobacco is a ritual refined over generations:

• The plants are cut at sunset the day before.
• A nail is inserted into the stem to assist with hanging.
• At dawn, before the heat rises, they are collected and taken to the pack house.
• Leaves are hung in batches of six, spaced for optimal airflow.
• As drying progresses, they are moved higher and placed closer together, always ensuring ventilation to prevent disease.

Curing is a delicate dance of touch, temperature, and humidity. Every day, Johan inspects the leaves by hand, adjusting conditions to guide them to the perfect cure. Only then are they boxed and delivered to buyers, who ultimately determine the price.

There is no premium for the reduced chemical usage and soil stewardship Johan practices but he believes the rewards come in different forms: healthier soil, healthier water, healthier plants, and a more sustainable farm for the next generation.

On the Butternut Fields: A Full realIPM Program

Beyond tobacco, Johan also grows butternuts and here he uses a broader suite of realIPM products:

• Bioneem
• Real Trichoderma
• Copper Soap
• Phyta
• Supported with AminoK for additional soil and plant strength

This integrated biological approach has helped him maintain plant health while building long-term soil resilience.