Online Reporter
Elita Chikwati
Agriculture News Editor
PREPARATIONS for the 2026 tobacco marketing season are at an advanced stage, with farmer organisations calling on farmers to sell their crop through formal channels to get value for their crop.
For the past years, unscrupulous buyers have been taking advantage of growers and buying tobacco at the farms for later sale at the auction floors at higher prices.
This resulted in many farmers falling prey to middlemen who prevent them from getting the real value for their crop.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) president, Mr George Seremwe, said farmers should be patient and wait for the opening of the floors to sell their crop rather than selling to middlemen.
“Farmers are reaping, curing and some are already grading their tobacco. We are encouraging growers to be wary of the middlemen who tend to come and offer immediate cash and short-change them in prices,” he said.
“There are fake United States dollars out there, so we do not want our farmers to lose their hard-earned tobacco to those conmen,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Farmers union president Mrs Monica Chinamasa said some of the issues of side marketing had two sides.
“Sometimes farmers will be desperate for cash and end up selling their crop at giveaway prices to middlemen. While we sympathise with farmers, we advise them to sell their crop through the auction floors where they get better prices. We also urge contractors to seriously open decentralised auction floors nearer farmers to reduce transport costs to the market,” she said.
Tobacco Farmers’ union Trust of Zimbabwe president, Mr Edward Dune, said they were educating farmers on the dangers of selling through informal channels.
“Farmers should be wary of unscrupulous business people who always show up during the marketing season. It is important to sell through the formal channels to get better returns,” he said.
Mr Dune said farmers were geared for the marketing season despite the dry weather conditions that are beginning to affect the crop in some areas by causing false ripening.
“Farmers are, however, happy that they managed to soldier on in terms of high productivity and applaud the Government for creating a conducive policy environment that is embracing irrigation development, which in the long term will see tobacco growers benefitting from localisation of hanging fruits,” he said.
“We are also engaging relevant authorities on foreign currency retention so it can be revised,” he said.
Last season, farmers were receiving 70 percent of their earnings in foreign currency and the remaining 30 percent in ZiG.
Farmers want the foreign currency component to be increased. The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) public affairs officer, Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe, said the industry had made progress in preparing for a flawless marketing season.
“The tobacco industry has made good progress in preparations for the 2026 marketing season, with key focus on regulatory compliance, licensing of buyers and readiness of auction and contract floors,” she said.
“Systems have been put in place to ensure orderly marketing, transparency and efficiency at the start of the selling season.
“The crop outlook for 2026 is positive, supported by increased hectarage, improved crop establishment and sustained farmer confidence. This positions the industry for a competitive and well-regulated marketing season.”
This year, 111 091 farmers have registered as growers and of these, 94 863 are contracted.
According to the latest update, 84 065 contracted growers are coming to the communal and A1 sectors.
Farmers planted 164 536 hectares an increase of 15 percent from the 143 025 ha during the same period last year.
“We expect a smooth and efficient selling season that delivers fair value to farmers and supports foreign currency inflows. Key areas of improvement are needed in sustainability compliance to further strengthen market integrity and service delivery,” she said.
Mrs Tsarwe said they had strengthened registration and licensing systems for growers, buyers and selling floors to ensure that only compliant players participate in the market.
“The biometric registration system for tobacco growers seeks to ensure accurate grower identification, eliminate duplication and improve traceability across the value chain,” she said.
