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Category: Agriculture & Sustainability

  • Tanzania Orders Tobacco Buyers to Pay Farmers by Oct. 30

    Tanzania Orders Tobacco Buyers to Pay Farmers by Oct. 30

    Tanzania’s agriculture minister ordered tobacco-buying companies to clear all outstanding payments owed to farmers by Oct. 30, saying there is no justification for delays after tobacco has been sold. Agriculture Minister Daniel Chongolo issued the directive Oct. 3 during a meeting with tobacco industry stakeholders in Tabora, where farmers, Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies, buyers, and the Tanzania Tobacco Board discussed challenges, including rising input costs, market access, outdated tobacco-drying technology, and delayed payments to cooperatives and local governments.

    Chongolo also said the government has delayed announcing new tobacco input prices while negotiating lower costs for farmers. He directed stakeholders to hold discussions within 10 days to secure more affordable prices and ordered fertilizer to be distributed to farmers within two weeks. Tabora Regional Commissioner Gerald Mongella called for increased subsidies and faster progress on establishing a fertilizer factory in the region. Meanwhile, Tanzania Tobacco Board Tabora Zone Acting Manager Albert Charles said the number of tobacco buyers has increased from three in the 2020-21 season to 18, potentially giving farmers more market opportunities despite ongoing industry challenges.

    Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania announced that it completed payments to growers and other stakeholders for the 2026 tobacco marketing season, disbursing TZS169.7 billion ($64.7 million) across the tobacco value chain, according to Daily News Tanzania. Growers received TZS154.2 billion ($58.7 million) of the total, with the company saying it had fulfilled its payment obligations for the season.

  • Zimbabwe Urges Tobacco Farmers to Diversify

    Zimbabwe Urges Tobacco Farmers to Diversify

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is urging tobacco farmers to dedicate about 30% of their land to complementary enterprises as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. The board said tobacco should remain the anchor crop, while growers test alternatives such as horticulture, livestock, and food crops to diversify income and reduce exposure to climate and market risks. Zimbabwe is expecting below-normal rainfall this season.

    TIMB said farmers should secure markets before planting, maintain separate financial records for each enterprise, and use existing tobacco infrastructure for other production. Irrigation systems could support crops such as wheat, potatoes, and vegetables, while curing barns could be used to dry paprika, chilies, and herbs. The board also highlighted export opportunities for higher-value crops, including blueberries, macadamia nuts, avocados, citrus, and specialty horticultural products.

    The push comes after Zimbabwe’s 2026 tobacco marketing season recorded 353.8 million kg sold for $882.5 million as of July 17. TIMB said diversification could provide income outside the tobacco production cycle, improve household food security, and strengthen farm resilience under its Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan 2.

  • ITGA Seeks Stories for World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    ITGA Seeks Stories for World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) is seeking short videos or written messages from members of the tobacco-growing community and wider industry ahead of World Tobacco Growers’ Day on Oct. 28. This year’s campaign, themed “Our Reality. Our Voice. Our Future.,” will highlight the experiences, role, and perspectives of tobacco growers and their communities. ITGA said contributions may include messages recognizing tobacco growers, their role in the sector, or the importance of their voices, and will be shared through the association’s communication channels around Oct. 28. Participants are asked to submit their contributions by Oct. 21.

  • Kenyan State Agencies, Manufacturers Clash Over New Tobacco Rules

    Kenyan State Agencies, Manufacturers Clash Over New Tobacco Rules

    Kenya Revenue Authority, Anti-Counterfeit Authority, and tobacco manufacturers have taken opposing positions on proposed amendments to the country’s Tobacco Control Act, with government agencies seeking tighter controls on tobacco and emerging nicotine products. In contrast, manufacturers warn some measures could increase compliance costs and encourage illicit trade. The Anti-Counterfeit Authority is seeking greater powers to authenticate and trace tobacco and nicotine products, citing industry estimates that illicit cigarettes accounted for about 37% of Kenya’s market in 2025 and resulted in an estimated 9 billion Kenyan shillings in annual excise revenue losses. The Kenya Revenue Authority supports expanding the definition of tobacco products to include synthetic nicotine, nicotine analogues, electronic nicotine delivery systems and related liquids, as well as stronger approval and licensing requirements.

    The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and BAT Kenya have raised concerns about proposals including county-level licensing of tobacco and nicotine businesses, restrictions on single-use plastics, flavor bans, and additional registration requirements. KAM said duplicative licensing requirements could increase administrative costs, while BAT said some restrictions could push consumers toward unregulated products.

  • ITGA Elects New President at Annual Meeting

    ITGA Elects New President at Annual Meeting

    The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) concluded its 2026 Annual General Meeting at Messe Dortmund, Germany, during InterTabac, bringing together representatives of tobacco growers and grower organizations from major producing regions. The meeting marked a leadership transition, with Marcílio Drescher, president of Afubra in Brazil, elected ITGA president, succeeding José Javier Aranda. Members recognized Aranda’s four-year presidency and his work on advocacy, regional coordination, and engagement with international regulatory processes.

    Discussions at the meeting focused on global leaf production and market developments, grower economic sustainability and living income, regulatory developments, traceability, and environmental stewardship, changing nicotine-consumption trends, and regional advocacy coordination. ITGA said its work during 2026 included stronger member and partner engagement, expanded regional coordination, cooperation with InterTabac and InterSupply, an Americas Regional Meeting, continued regional activity in Africa, and living-income research involving more than 700 growers.

    Drescher said his priorities for the next mandate would include strengthening growers’ representation in international discussions, advancing understanding of growers’ economic realities and supporting the long-term viability of tobacco-growing communities.

  • Reynolds Provides $200K to Support NC Farmers, Food Access

    Reynolds Provides $200K to Support NC Farmers, Food Access

    Reynolds American provided $200,000 to expand a partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC and organic produce distributor Happy Dirt, supporting fresh food access while creating new market opportunities for North Carolina farmers. The program’s first year served more than 384,000 people, distributing more than 250,000 pounds of fresh produce sourced from 27 farms, including seven with ties to tobacco production.

    The renewed funding will support the existing produce purchasing program and add a weekly box program providing 150 seasonal produce boxes for 24 weeks. The initiative is aimed in part at helping current and former tobacco farmers diversify into organic fruit and vegetable production and gain access to new wholesale markets.

  • Kutsaga Promotes Drought-Ready Tobacco Ahead of El Niño 

    Kutsaga Promotes Drought-Ready Tobacco Ahead of El Niño 

    Kutsaga Research is promoting drought-tolerant and fast-maturing tobacco varieties as Zimbabwe prepares for an expected El Niño-induced drought in the 2026/27 season. The regional outlook from SARCOF-33 forecasts below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across much of Southern Africa from October 2026 to March 2027. 

    Kutsaga’s portfolio includes KRK71 and KRK75, which have deep-rooting characteristics that help plants access moisture, and T78–T81, which mature rapidly to escape late-season moisture stress. The institution is also promoting float seedbed technology and T77, a Trichoderma harzianum-based biological solution supporting root health. 

    Kutsaga is testing LPG- and biogas-fueled curing systems to reduce reliance on conventional energy sources. The broader strategy combines climate-resilient varieties, improved seedlings, water management and alternative energy to help tobacco farmers shift from reacting to drought to planning for climate risks. 

  • Africa’s Tobacco Production Rises Despite Global Decline 

    Africa’s Tobacco Production Rises Despite Global Decline 

    Africa’s tobacco-leaf production increased nearly 9% between 2012 and 2024, even as global production fell by almost 19%, according to a new WHO analysis. Africa accounted for around 11% of global output in 2024, with Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Uganda producing most of the continent’s tobacco. East Africa alone accounts for nearly 90% of African tobacco-leaf production. 

    At the same time, Africa’s cigarette import bill more than doubled, from $833 million to $1.8 billion, highlighting a growing imbalance between raw-leaf exports and manufactured cigarette imports. WHO is calling for greater investment in crop diversification and economically viable alternatives for tobacco farmers, alongside stronger tobacco-control measures. 

  • Dominican Republic Creates Council to Protect Cigar GI

    Dominican Republic Creates Council to Protect Cigar GI

    The Dominican Republic established a Regulatory Council for the “Dominican Cigar” geographical indication (GI) to protect the authenticity, quality and international reputation of its cigar industry. Chaired by Dominican Tobacco Institute Director Iván Hernández Guzmán, the council includes government agencies and industry groups and will oversee compliance with production standards from tobacco cultivation through manufacturing, packaging and storage. It will also promote the designation, support marketing, and train registered producers, with the National Quality Council (Indocal) and National Office of Industrial Property (Onapi) providing technical and legal support.

  • Zimbabwe Eyes Tobacco SEZs to Boost Value Addition

    Zimbabwe Eyes Tobacco SEZs to Boost Value Addition

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector is reaching record production levels but declining returns are highlighting the need for greater local processing and value addition, according to local authorities. Tobacco sales reached 358.3 million kg this season, up 1% from 353.3 million kg in 2025, while farmer revenue fell 24% to $892.6 million as average prices dropped 25% to $2.49 per kg. Industry officials and economists warn that global cigarette consumption is declining and the shift toward slim and super-slim products is reducing leaf demand, limiting the value of further production increases.

    Industry experts are urging Zimbabwe to establish tobacco-specific special economic zones (SEZs) modeled on manufacturing hubs in the United Arab Emirates. Tapiwa Masedza, founder of Chevron Tobacco, said targeted fiscal incentives, streamlined regulations and improved logistics could encourage investment in cut-rag processing and cigarette manufacturing. Zimbabwe aims to increase tobacco industry revenue to as much as $7 billion by 2030, raise production to 500 million kg and increase local value addition from about 2% to 30%.

    Proposed SEZ incentives include a five-year zero corporate tax rate, duty-free imports of complementary foreign leaf for processing and re-export, deferred or zero-rated VAT on inter-merchant and export transactions, accelerated capital allowances, and excise-free exports. Zimbabwe has installed capacity to produce about 18 billion cigarettes annually but manufactures only around 4 billion, according to industry sources. Masedza said removing VAT on local grade exchanges and providing greater regulatory certainty would help merchants blend and process tobacco domestically, allowing Zimbabwe to capture more value from each kilogram of leaf rather than relying on raw exports.