HARARE-- At least 177.8 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth 515 million US dollars have been sold so far since the 2018 sales season opened on March 21 this year, according to the latest statistics provided by the industry regulator, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).
After day 52 of sales season, the figures showed an increase both in the value and volume of tobacco sold compared with the same period last year, the TIMB said here Monday. During the comparable period last year, at least 145.89 million kg of tobacco were sold at a value of 420.6 million USD.
During the period under review the average price for tobacco was 2.90 USD per kg compared with 2.88 USD per kg paid last season.
Previously the preserve of commercial farmers, tobacco is fast becoming an attractive source of livelihood for many Zimbabwean small-scale and communal farmers and at least 144,905 farmers had registered to sell tobacco this year, with the bulk of the number being communal farmers.
Zimbabwe is expecting about 200 million kg of tobacco to be produced this season. In the last season, the country earned over 600 million USD from over 190 million kg of the golden leaf produced.
This year the crop was grown under two extremes of weather characterised by delayed rains in the first half of the season and excessive precipitation in the second half.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK
