Zimbabwe
Tobacco sales in Zimbabwe have surpassed the 120 million kilogram (mkg) mark for flue-cured tobacco sales despite late rains, dry spells, and floods affecting production. This is the sixth time that the country has scored such a feat.
Latest statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) have shown that 123.8 mkg of tobacco worth $363 million have been sold since the opening of the auction floors in March. Production fell significantly between 2003 and 2009, but since 2010, production started improving, with farmers producing 124 mkg of flue-cured tobacco. The industry expects about 165 mkg this season.
Most farmers delayed planting and TIMB had to shift opening dates from the traditional mid-February to early March since the season was late.
The statistics show that 35.9 mkg of flue-cured tobacco worth $89.1 million have been sold through the auction floors, while the remaining 87.8 mkg worth $274 million were sold through the contract floors.
There has been an increase in the number of farmers growing tobacco and most of them have notably improved their livelihoods. Stakeholders are concerned with the quality of the crop produced by some farmers, especially those who are still new in the industry.
TIMB chairperson Mrs Monica Chinamasa confirmed that every season more than 15,000 farmers were shifting to tobacco production, but lacked technical expertise especially on curing and presentation of the crop for sale.
“Most farmers have captured the art of growing tobacco, but still have challenges in curing and presenting the crop for sale and this had an effect on the price of the end product,” she was quoted as saying.