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At least 1 107 farmers registered to grow tobacco over the past week alone as the onset of the rains approaches. Statistics from the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board shows that at least 66 810 farmers have so far registered to grow the golden leaf during the 2013/14 season, up from 65 703 that had registered last week
“During the similar period in 2012 approximately 50 418 growers had registered to grow tobacco for the 2013 Season,” the TIMB said.
At least 22 000 of the farmers that have registered want to grow the crop for the first time.
Planting of irrigated tobacco has been going on since the beginning of September while that of the dry planted crop begins when the rains start falling.
Tobacco is one of Zimbabwe’s major agricultural exports, accounting for about 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product win the bulk of the crop going to South Africa.
Other export destinations for Zimbabwean tobacco include Belgium, United Arab Emirates, China, Sudan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, United Kingdom and Russia. – New Ziana
Online Reporter