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By Elvis Dumba
Chinhoyi – The country’s tobacco output is expected to grow by 8,5% in 2023, with 230 million kilograms of golden leaf expected to be on the market.
This was revealed by Mashonaland West Provincial Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka in a speech read on her behalf by Deputy Director in Charge of human resources in her office, Sunny Seremani during the official opening of National Tobacco Expo hosted by Mashonaland West Show Society in Chinhoyi.
Mliswa said that the increase in tobacco production is attributed to good rains.
” Tobacco production is expected to grow by 8,5% year on year to 230 million kilograms this year, thanks to the good rains we received with the tobacco market season opening with $4.35 per kilogram up from $4.20 last market season,” she said.
Mliswa said the country’s agriculture foreign currency top earner is earmarked for production growth targeted to see tobacco production grow to 300 million kilograms by 2025.
Mashonaland West is the highest tobacco-producing province followed by Mashonaland Central.
“Currently, the government is implementing a tobacco value chain transformation plan, which seeks to increase production, local processing, and curb the export of unprocessed tobacco,” she said.
Mliswa revealed that the bulk of tobacco farmers get support through contract farming where farmers are assisted with the requisite support in tobacco farming.
“The government, through National Development Strategy 1, seeks to achieve an 8,1 billion agriculture sector by 2025, and for this to be achieved, we expect tobacco as the top agriculture export earner to improve significantly from the current around one billion dollars earnings. “
She revealed that tobacco land use grew significantly to 117 000 hectares from 110 000 according to the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board with 148 527 farmers in the production of the golden leaf, an increase from 123 000 farmers in 2022.
Mliswa said the government listens to farmers’ concerns, which saw mechanisms put in place in ensuring farmers are timeously paid.
“The government has noted farmers’ concerns over production costs with Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe increasing foreign currency retention threshold from 75% to 85% with farmers being paid timeously for their product delivered to auction floors,” she said.
Farmers who attended the Expo hailed the organizers for creating opportunities for them to create synergies and access various markets.
“The expo of such a nature was long overdue as it has helped us small-scale tobacco farmers to get more information on marketing opportunities and access to various businesses who have products that aid us in the tobacco production, “64-year-old Nyarai Gutu a tobacco farmer from Chitomborwizi said.