adminStatistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board show that this year’s seed uptake had a potential to cover 135 622,7 hectares compared to 108 16,5 ha covered last year.
The 2013 tobacco seed sales closed on 14 September.
To date, 51 675 growers have registered for the next cropping season compared to 26 972 who registered during the same period last year.
The farmers comprise small-scale growers, A1 and A2, and commercial farmers.
Matabeleland, which is known for cattle ranching, has of late seen farmers in the region slowly showing keen interest in tobacco production.
TIMB indicated that one farmer in the A2 category last year ventured into tobacco growing resulting in the region contributing 0,05 percent of the total national output.
A number of farmers are turning into tobacco production because the sector has become more lucrative as marketing of the crop has become better organised compared to other cash crops such as cotton.
This year’s tobacco production went up nine percent to 144,5 million kg raking in more than $500 million.
In terms of national output, Mashonaland West was the highest contributing 30,80 percent followed by Mashonaland East that recorded 25,85 percent while Mashonaland Central recorded 25,82 percent.
Manicaland and the Midlands recorded 17,27 percent and 0,18 percent contributions respectively.
Tobacco is one of Zimbabwe’s major cash crop earners that have also played a critical role to drive economic growth by improving the liquidity situation in the economy.
Online Reporter