ZAMBIA
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Leaf Zambia Limited says over 4,000 Zambian farmers have been encouraged to grow tobacco this year in the Western Province due to the prevailing high price on the global market.
Global tobacco prices have shown signs of buoyancy with an average daily price of US$2.82 per kilogram (kg), while the contract sale is US$6.25 per kg and the auction sale is US$4.99 per kg.
“We are encouraged to witness increased number of tobacco farmers from 125 in 2009 in Kaoma to over 4,000 to date,” JTI Leaf Zambia Limited corporate affairs and communications manager Littiya Matakala said.