According to tobaccoreporter, Zimbabwe has exported more than 98 million kilograms of tobacco so far this selling season. According to the Herald, the country is targeting total exports of $1.6 billion, up from $900 million in 2022.
To date, the country has exported $502 million of tobacco, compared to $417 million in the same period in 2022, an increase of 20 percent.
Export value includes income earned by farmers based on growing, drying and grading crops, as well as income earned by merchants for additional processing, packaging, meeting precise customer orders and final shipment.
“In terms of tobacco leaf exports, Zimbabwe is projected to exceed $1.6 billion, compared to $900 million achieved in 2022, so we are pursuing growth in all aspects,” said John Basella, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development. “My expectations are very high; We need to pursue better growth.” According to Basera, this year’s tobacco production is the highest and best the country has ever seen.
“The season is good, crop quality is good and prices are good,” said Chelesani Tsarwe, public relations Officer at the Tobacco Industry and Markets Board (TIMB). “Compared to previous seasons, farmers’ payment times are on schedule. Overall, the tobacco market is orderly and the various stakeholders are adhering to the Commission’s compliance framework.”
“If the government continues to support smallholder farmers like the Pfumvudza project, then farmers will be assured of timely access to inputs,” said Edward Dunay, vice president of the Tobacco Farmers Union Trust. “Bad middlemen should be completely eliminated to ensure farmers get what they deserve.”
“Tobacco has changed the lives of most people, but there is a need to ensure that it is processed domestically to ensure that our farmers can earn more,” Dunay said.
Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s largest foreign exchange earner. The crop is exported throughout the year, but much of it is purchased from contracted farmers. China accounts for 40-45 per cent of total exports.
References:
[1] Zimbabwe Aims for $1.6 Billion in Exports