THE 2025/26 season has recorded a sharp increase in the area under irrigated tobacco, which rose to 24 000 hectares from 19 700 hectares last season, according to the latest figures released by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).
The expansion in irrigation has helped push the total area planted to 113 536 hectares, representing a 21,7 percent increase from the 93 281 hectares planted during the previous season.
The growth has been registered despite a 19,3 percent decline in the number of registered tobacco farmers, which fell to 101 443 from 125 661 in the prior production cycle.
Contract farming continues to dominate the sector, accounting for 85 855 hectares, or about 75,6 percent of the total planted area. The remaining 24,4 percent of the crop is being financed through a combination of bank loans and self funding.
Notably, 15 percent of growers are either self financed or relying on bank loans, a development that industry experts say provides a “spark of hope” for the survival of the country’s traditional auction marketing system.
Mashonaland Central Province has maintained its status as Zimbabwe’s tobacco powerhouse, leading in the number of growers. It is followed by Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Mashonaland East.
In terms of farmer demographics, the industry remains heavily reliant on smallholder participation, a structure that emerged following the land reform programme. Communal farmers constitute the largest share of the total farming population.
They are followed by A1 farmers (resettled smallholders), small-scale commercial farmers, and A2 farmers (large-scale commercial growers).
Tobacco remains Zimbabwe’s single largest agricultural export and the second largest earner of foreign currency after gold. Historically, the sector was dominated by a small number of large-scale commercial farmers prior to the Land Reform Programme in 2000.
The “golden leaf” is produced by more than 100 000 farmers, the vast majority of whom are smallholders operating on communal and resettled land.
The industry operates under a dual marketing system, comprising the auction system and the contract system.
Output in Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector is expected to climb to 400 million kilogrammes this year, up from 354 million kilogrammes in the previous production cycle.
Tobacco exports as of mid-December 2025 reached US$1,36 billion, maintaining the crop’s position as the country’s leading agricultural foreign currency earner despite a slight 0,7 percent decline compared with the same period last year.
While traditional Asian markets cooled, a strong surge in European demand and steady growth within Africa helped offset the overall decline.
The European union emerged as the standout growth market during the season, with export earnings surging by 64, 5 percent, rising to US$169,6 million from US$103,1 million.
The increase reflects a growing preference among continental manufacturers for Zimbabwe’s high quality, flue cured Virginia leaf.
The Far East, dominated by China, remains Zimbabwe’s largest tobacco export destination, although revenue declined from US$953,2 million to US$819,3 million. Despite the 14 percent drop, the Far East continues to account for 60 percent of total tobacco export value.-herald
