ZIMBABWE
The 2020 tobacco output for Zimbabwe is expected to decline by 13% to 225 million kilograms (m.kg) from a record high of 259 m.kg in the last season due to drought.
Patrick Devanish, chairperson of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), said initial estimates indicate that 225 m.kg of tobacco would be delivered to the auction floors this year.
Devenish said, “The earliest estimate of the crop is approximately 225 m.kg although the irrigated crop is very good in quality, the dry land crop suffered the effects of drought and also the planting season began late because of the late onset of the rainy season.” He also said, “The irrigated crop is of very good quality and the dry land crop, not all of it but quite a lot of it is suffering as a result of drought and it needs a bit of some rains.”
Speaking separately, TIMB c.e.o, Dr. Andrew Matibiri said the agency was presently undertaking a crop assessment, together with Agritex. “So far, what we have observed during the crop assessment is that the tobacco crop is now growing well after the rains most parts of the country have received,” he said.
According to Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president, Wonder Chabikwa, the irrigated crop established in the first week of September was ready for marketing while a majority of the dryland crop was largely affected by the dry spell. However, the crop stands a chance of a huge recovery if the rains that are being received in some parts of the country continue.