Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Reporter
TOBACCO growers in Matabeleland region on Wednesday started selling their golden leaf at the first ever tobacco auction floor in Bulawayo at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
16 growers brought 500 bales of tobacco on the first day of the sale.
According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) a total of 325 growers that are a combination of established and first time tobacco farmers are into tobacco farming in Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North provinces.
The 325 growers are producers of Naturally Cured Virginia (NCV) tobacco.
NCV tobacco is a sustainable, eco-friendly farming method practiced in the Matabeleland region that eliminates the need for firewood or coal by using sunshades and drying racks to dry the golden leaves.
It provides a high-value, lower-cost alternative to traditional Fire-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco with identical chemical composition and smoking characteristics, empowering smallholder farmers in the region.
When tobacco growing was introduced to Marula villagers in the 2023/24, only 17 communal farmers heeded the call to switch from traditional small grains and maize to commercial tobacco farming and that figure has now ballooned to more than 320 farmers, according to figures released by the TIMB).
At a national level, as of 31 March 2026, 3 445 300 kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold at auction floors.
Mr Mollen Ncube, a farmer from Umguza, said he brought four bales harvested from half a hectare of land.
“I’m waiting for my tobacco to be graded so that I have an idea how much money the four bales will fetch. More tobacco is still in the field and will be harvested over the next 3 weeks,” said Mr Ncube.
