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Category: Agriculture & Sustainability

  • Zimbabwe Tobacco Exports Surpass $1 Billion

    Zimbabwe Tobacco Exports Surpass $1 Billion

    Zimbabwe exported 189.98 million kilograms of tobacco worth $1.003 billion so far this year, up from 154.26 million kilograms valued at $844 million during the same period last year, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. The average export price was $5.28 per kilogram. The Far East was the largest market, accounting for 84.33 million kilograms worth $577.2 million, at an average price of $6.84 per kilogram.

    Exports to Africa rose to 42.32 million kilograms valued at $169.4 million, while shipments to the Middle East totaled 22.27 million kilograms worth $69.4 million. Exports to the European Union fell to 19.87 million kilograms valued at $93 million, down from 23.52 million kilograms worth $135.8 million a year earlier. Shipments to other European markets and the Americas increased to 12.49 million kilograms and 8.69 million kilograms, respectively.

  • Zimbabwe Tobacco Registrations Up, Hectareage Down

    Zimbabwe Tobacco Registrations Up, Hectareage Down

    Zimbabwe registered 81,797 tobacco growers for the 2027 marketing season as of Oct. 15, up 10% from 74,082 during the same period last year, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). However, preliminary estimates put potential tobacco planting area at 85,025 hectares, down from 94,582 hectares in the previous season.

    Farmers had transplanted 10,597 hectares of irrigated tobacco as of Oct. 15, against a target of 20,000 hectares. Average tobacco prices fell to $2.49 per kilogram during the 2026 marketing season, from $3.32 in 2025.

  • Malawi Tobacco Grower Registration Reaches 19% of Farmers

    Malawi Tobacco Grower Registration Reaches 19% of Farmers

    Malawi’s Tobacco Commission reported that 55,851 growers had registered under its Know Your Grower (KYG) program out of 293,205 historic tobacco farmers, representing 19% of the total. The registration exercise began Sept. 21, with the original Oct. 3 deadline extended to Oct. 17.

    Tobacco Commission spokesperson Telephorus Chigwenembe said registration would remain available at divisional offices in Lilongwe, Kasungu, Mzuzu, and Limbe after field operations ended. The commission plans to assess the reasons for the low registration rate. The KYG program is intended to strengthen regulatory compliance and improve tracking of tobacco production.

  • Malawi Extends Tobacco Grower Registration Deadline

    Malawi Extends Tobacco Grower Registration Deadline

    Malawi’s Tobacco Commission has extended the deadline for grower licensing and Know Your Grower (KYG) registration for the 2026-27 tobacco season from Oct. 3 to Oct. 17 following higher-than-expected participation. The country has an estimated 191,000 tobacco growers, of whom 49,229 had registered under the KYG system as of Oct. 12. The program is intended to improve grower identification, traceability, and compliance with international market requirements.

    Commission board chair Rev. Daniel Gunya said registration would continue until all eligible growers were captured in the system. Some farmers have reported delays because of staffing shortages, prompting the commission to deploy additional personnel to high-volume centers, including Kasungu. The commission also urged growers to prepare early for the new season and follow recommended farming practices to improve leaf quality.

  • 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.