Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Jerry Chifamba
Zimbabwe is on track for a bumper tobacco harvest of 300 million kilogrammes this year, thanks to favourable rainfall and increasing contributions from smallholder farmers. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chairperson Patrick Devenish during a parliamentary committee briefing in Harare.
“The crop has performed exceptionally well since the rains began in January, and we’re anticipating a substantial harvest,” Devenish told lawmakers.
The high expectations come as the 2025 tobacco selling season kicks off on Wednesday, with 55 approved markets, including both contract and auction systems. TIMB has licensed 31 A-Class buyers and 44 contractors to handle this year’s crop.
Devenish attributed the surge in production to the success of the tobacco contracting system, which has empowered smallholder farmers. Improved yields and quality have not only strengthened the industry but also uplifted rural communities, creating a new middle class.
Tobacco remains Zimbabwe’s top agricultural export and a critical source of foreign currency for the nation.
Online Reporter