Zimbabwe’s tobacco hectarage increased by 21% to 100,594 hectares this season, up from 83,391 hectares during the same period last year, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). Mashonaland West leads production with the largest combined area under irrigated and dryland tobacco, followed by Manicaland and Mashonaland Central, reflecting strong growth across major producing regions. The TIMB said 90% of growers are operating under contract farming arrangements.
While production has expanded into new regions, the government is seeking to reduce reliance on offshore funding and has proposed a $60 million facility to boost domestic financing, support sustainable growth, and promote value addition in the sector.-tobaccoreporter
