Sundaymail EditorElita Chikwati
Agriculture News Editor
FARMERS have earned US$133,3 million from the sale of 38,8 million kilogrammes of flue-cured tobacco, with the contract floors recording the highest delivery volumes.
Since the opening of the 2025 tobacco marketing season, farmers have sold 36,4 million kilogrammes worth US$126 million through contract sales, while 2,3 million kilogrammes valued at US$7,3 million went under the hammer at the auction floors.
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board statistics indicate that by day 21 farmers had delivered lower volumes of the golden leaf when compared to the same period last year.
According to TIMB farmers sold 52, 7 million kilogrammes of flue-cured tobacco valued at US$186, 1 million last year.
The statistics also show that contracted growers have dominated the industry, with only a few farmers still financing themselves.
The average price on day 21 was US$3,44 per kg compared to US$ 3,53 last year.
Contract floors have continued to register higher prices with the highest price of US$6,30 per kg offered so far coming from contract sales.
The highest price at the auction floors has remained at US$4,99 per kg. The lowest price of US$0.10 per kg has been recorded.
The increase in tobacco production has been attributed to viable prices, an organised market and the availability of funding through contractors and the Government.
Tobacco has earned a strategic position in the economy because of its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product and foreign currency earnings.
Zimbabwe has become the major flue-cured tobacco producer in Africa and is ranked fifth among the top world producers of the golden leaf.
The growth of the sector is largely due to many communal farmers joining the lucrative farming sector following the land reform programme.
Online Reporter