Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s tobacco production goal of 170 million kg has failed to materialize, according to figures released by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) at the close of the trading season.
The statistics show total sales of 129.9 million kg at the country’s three auction centers, representing an 11% increase over 2010. Income from sales jumped 4% year-on-year to US$356,582,527.
A “clean-up sale” to be held on September 20 will dispose of any remaining stocks but it is not thought that more than 10 million kg of additional tobacco will be presented, at least 17% under the original estimates.

“Handling losses” and poor weather conditions, including too much rain in some areas and drought conditions in others, have been blamed for the shortfall in production, according to TIMB c.e.o. Andrew Matibiri.
“Tobacco Research Board records that losses were at 21% and in some cases 31%,” he said. Noting that low quality crop was not being presented for sale because: “it is too costly to bring it to the auction floors”.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco farmers, many of them beneficiaries of the Mugabe-government’s land grabbing “reforms”, lack the experience and expertise to farm the crop as efficiently as the previous tenants and the country is still struggling to produce crop sizes comparable to those predating land refoms.