HARARE
–
Zimbabwe
is
expecting
a
bumper
tobacco
harvest
of
300
million
kilogrammes
this
year,
thanks
to
favourable
rainfall
and
increased
production
by
smallholder
farmers.
This
was
revealed
in
parliament
on
Tuesday
by
Tobacco
Industry
and
Marketing
Board
(TIMB)
chairperson
Patrick
Devenish.
Devenish
was
giving
oral
evidence
before
the
Parliamentary
Portfolio
Committee
on
Lands,
Agriculture,
Fisheries,
Water,
and
Rural
Development,
where
he
outlined
the
high
expectations
for
this
year’s
tobacco
crop,
which
goes
on
sale
on
Wednesday.
“The
crop
has
performed
exceptionally
well
since
the
rains
began
in
January,
and
we’re
anticipating
a
substantial
harvest,”
Devenish
told
lawmakers.
He
said
the
current
estimate
stands
at
280
million
kilogrammes,
with
the
possibility
of
surpassing
that
figure
as
the
third
estimate
is
being
prepared.
“While
we
are
cautious
about
making
guarantees,
we
believe
a
300-million-kilogramme
crop
is
achievable.”
He
attributed
the
surge
in
tobacco
production
to
the
growing
success
of
smallholder
farmers,
who
have
benefited
significantly
from
the
tobacco
contracting
system.
“The
contracting
system
has
been
in
place
for
some
time
but
continues
to
strengthen,
helping
the
smallholder
sector
to
flourish.
A
significant
part
of
the
industry’s
success
is
due
to
these
farmers.
Their
yields
have
risen
sharply,
and
the
quality
of
their
tobacco
has
improved
as
well.
This
has
led
to
the
emergence
of
a
new
rural
middle
class,
boosting
the
desirability
of
our
tobacco,”
he
said.
Devenish
emphasised
that
supporting
smallholder
farmers
is
critical
to
securing
the
future
of
Zimbabwe’s
tobacco
industry
and
its
role
in
the
African
continent’s
agricultural
sector.
Ahead
of
the
2025
tobacco
selling
season,
which
kicks
off
this
Wednesday,
TIMB
licensed
31
A-Class
buyers
and
44
contractors.
“There
will
be
55
markets
this
year,
including
both
contract
and
auction
markets.
All
these
markets
are
prepared
and
have
been
inspected
and
approved
by
our
staff.
The
31
A-licensed
buyers
and
44
contractors
are
all
licensed
by
TIMB
to
operate
Tobacco
remains
Zimbabwe’s
largest
agricultural
export,
providing
a
significant
source
of
foreign
currency
for
the
country.