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AT LEAST 64 780 growers have so far registered to grow tobacco during the 2013/14 cropping season, with 21 000 growing the crop for the first time.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said that the number of growers was expected to surpass last year’s figure of 90 000.
“Masvingo, Matabeleland, Midlands and some parts of Mashonaland East provinces — traditionally non-tobacco growing areas — have left some food crops for tobacco due to attractively high prices and orderly marketing,” he said.
Registration of growers, which began last month, would close on October 31.
Dr Matibiri said more than 1 000 kilogrammes of tobacco seed has so far been sold, a 27 percent increase from the same period last year.
“The amount of seed is testimony that the country will record an increase in the volume of tobacco production in the 2013-2014 cropping season,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Tobacco Research Board has also said it has over the years been overwhelmed by the demand for tobacco seed.
The TRB said this season it has produced sufficient seed to cover 200 000 hectares, a 45 percent increase compared to the past season.
Planting of irrigated tobacco is in progress since the September 1. Main planting will begin when the rainy season starts. Tobacco is one of Zimbabwe’s major agricultural exports, accounting for 10,7 percent of gross domestic product.
South Africa is the leading market for the crop this year with 10,1 million kg worth about US$30 million having been exported so far.
Other export destinations for Zimbabwean tobacco include Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, China, Sudan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Russia. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter