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Category: Agriculture & Sustainability

  • Zimbabwean Farmers Ordered to Destroy Tobacco Stalks

    Zimbabwean Farmers Ordered to Destroy Tobacco Stalks

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board “strongly encouraged” tobacco growers to destroy stalks promptly after harvest to prevent the carryover of pests and diseases into the next production season. Under the Plant Pests and Disease Act (Chapter 19:08), farmers are required to uproot all living tobacco plants, including roots, by May 15, with fines or imprisonment for non-compliance. TIMB emphasized that simply cutting or slashing stalks encourages regrowth, which can harbor pests, spread disease, and deplete soil nutrients, threatening both crop yields and the broader tobacco industry.

    To reinforce compliance, stakeholders have suggested linking funding access for the next crop to proper stalk destruction, while grower associations are conducting awareness campaigns on the risks of non-compliance. First-time offenders face a $100 fine, with repeat offenders facing higher fines or imprisonment. Some farmers have also been flagged for growing crops from the same family as tobacco on the same land, a practice prohibited under the regulations.

  • Pyxus Empowers Growers with New Mobile App

    Pyxus Empowers Growers with New Mobile App

    Pyxus International has launched Pyxus Alliance, a proprietary mobile application aimed at simplifying crop contracting and management for growers. The platform allows growers to self-submit contract-related data, request crop inputs, access essential crop information, and update personal records, all from a single, convenient interface. By reducing reliance on paper documentation and administrative tasks, the app is designed to give growers more time to focus on producing high-quality, sustainable, and compliant crops. According to Pyxus CEO Pieter Sikkel, the app represents an industry milestone as the first digital solution of its kind, streamlining operations while enhancing grower autonomy.

    The app is currently being piloted with select contracted growers in Brazil, where early feedback has been highly positive. Growers like Samuel Krambeck report that the platform has cut the time spent on contracting by roughly 80% compared to previous methods, allowing more focus on crop quality and productivity. Pyxus plans a global rollout following the pilot phase, and the app is now available for participating growers through Google Play and the Apple App Store, marking a significant step toward digitizing agricultural operations and improving efficiency across the company’s global grower network.

  • Zimbabwe Orders Buyers to Get Active as Tobacco Market Starts Slow

    Zimbabwe Orders Buyers to Get Active as Tobacco Market Starts Slow

    Zimbabwe’s government ordered licensed tobacco merchants who have not yet participated in the 2026 marketing season to begin buying within 14 days or face regulatory action, amid concerns that low buyer turnout has contributed to weak auction prices. The directive from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board requires non-participating merchants to explain their absence and outline planned purchase volumes to ensure competition in the market. Only seven of 43 registered buyers were active during the opening days of the season, prompting some farmers to withdraw bales while waiting for better prices.

    Officials say the market is currently in its price-discovery phase and expect prices to firm as more buyers enter the floors and competition increases, however, farmers are concerned as early-season figures show auction sales significantly lagging behind last year. As of March 5, 626,742 kg of tobacco had been sold for $1.79 million compared with 1.24 million kg worth $4.17 million during the same period in 2025. The average price also dropped to $2.85 per kg from $3.35 a year earlier.

  • Zimbabwe Assures Farmers as Tobacco Prices Begin Stabilizing

    Zimbabwe Assures Farmers as Tobacco Prices Begin Stabilizing

    The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has reassured Zimbabwean tobacco farmers that market prices are stabilizing following an early-season shock where some bales sold for as little as $0.35 per kg, despite the first bale fetching $4.60/kg. TIMB attributed the sharp early declines to a global oversupply of tobacco, the early opening of sales floors, and limited initial participation by buyers, rather than any structural market distortions.

    With the opening of contract floors, including Northern Tobacco, prices have begun to recover, and no complaints from growers were reported during the latest auctions. TIMB emphasized its mandate to protect farmer welfare, pledging to monitor the market closely and prevent conduct that could harm competition or disadvantage growers, urging farmers to allow normal market dynamics to restore stability as broader buyer participation continues.

  • Zimbabwe’s 2026 Tobacco Season Opens 

    Zimbabwe’s 2026 Tobacco Season Opens 

    Zimbabwe officially opened its 2026 tobacco marketing season yesterday (March 4), with Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube saying that Zimbabwe continues to establish its position as a global player in tobacco production, with the objective to not only grow volumes but also increase domestic production. “Value addition and beneficiation will be increased from 11% to 30% by creating an enabling environment for local processing of cut rag cigarettes and other tobacco products,” he said.

    The opening marked the government’s launch of its Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan II (2026–2030), a five-year strategy aimed at boosting value addition in the key export sector. The plan seeks to enhance productivity, sustainability, and farmer resilience through climate-smart agriculture, irrigation, mechanization programs, and the localization of up to 70% of tobacco production financing. It also aims to diversify export markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

    The first bale for the 2026 season sold for $4.60 per kg, slightly below last year’s $4.65. 

  • TIMB Keeping Tobacco Money Home, Limiting Unregulated Sales

    TIMB Keeping Tobacco Money Home, Limiting Unregulated Sales

    With 67% local financing in place, Zimbabwe has nearly reached its goal of reducing reliance on offshore funding that limits domestic tobacco value retention, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). TIMB set the goal of 70% local financing, as officials estimate that under external financing models, for every U.S. dollar financed, only 12 cents remains in the country. Tobacco remains the country’s largest agricultural export and second-largest foreign currency earner after gold, generating about $1.2 billion last year.

    Tobacco output exceeded expectations last year, reaching 355 million kg against a 300 million kg target, with projections of around 400 million kg this year, with more than 90% of tobacco under contract arrangements. While production growth has been strong, value addition remains subdued at 10.78% against a 30% target.

    TIMB has also introduced tougher penalties and a biometric grower management system ahead of the new marketing season, significantly raising fines for regulatory breaches. Farmers caught engaging in side marketing will be fined $50 per bale, up from $20, while merchants purchasing such tobacco will pay $200 per bale. Illegal buying point operators, known as “Makoronyera,” risk fines of up to $2,000.

    TIMB confirmed that 48 contractors and 46 Class A buyers have been licensed for the 2026 season, with grading categories streamlined to enhance global competitiveness amid evolving climatic and market conditions. Five firms were barred over compliance issues.

  • Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Season Ready to Open

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Season Ready to Open

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco auction floors are set to open March 4, with contract floors following a day later, as authorities express confidence in their readiness for the marketing season. Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos said inspections last week showed strong preparation across the three auction floors, which are expected to handle increased volumes following a 15% rise in planted area to about 164,500 hectares. The government is targeting 500 million kg of output by 2030 as part of plans to build a $7 billion industry, with officials projecting around 400 million kilograms this season. Floor operators, including Premier Tobacco Auction Floor and Ethical Sales Floor, said systems are in place to ensure smooth operations and prompt payments, with some farmers expected to receive funds within an hour, while the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board highlighted new biometric measures to curb side marketing.

  • Tanzania Advances Renewable Energy for Tobacco Curing

    Tanzania Advances Renewable Energy for Tobacco Curing

    The Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA) is accelerating efforts to reduce deforestation and improve farmer incomes by promoting renewable energy solutions for tobacco curing. Historically reliant on firewood, the curing process has contributed to forest degradation in key growing regions. TORITA is now advancing solar-powered drying systems and energy-efficient curing barns designed to lower fuel costs, improve productivity, and reduce environmental impact. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jacob Lisuma said the institute’s research is focused on practical, affordable applications that directly address smallholder challenges rather than theoretical outcomes.

    TORITA is strengthening its impact through partnerships with academic and regional research bodies, including Nelson Mandela African University, the Tobacco Research Board, and Malawi’s Research and Agricultural Technology Institute. Collaboration with regulators such as the Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority and the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority supports the development of improved inputs alongside alternative energy technologies. Funded through government backing and industry levies, the institute’s initiatives aim to align sustainability with profitability, offering smallholder farmers lower curing costs while contributing to long-term environmental protection.

  • Pakistani Growers Seek Help Over Issues with Tobacco Companies

    Pakistani Growers Seek Help Over Issues with Tobacco Companies

    The chairman of the Tobacco Growers Association in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Daud Jan Khan, said 2026 had the potential to be one of the worst years for growers, accusing national and multinational purchasing companies of exploitative practices and alleging that the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) failed to enforce agreements under Martial Law Order 487 or ensure proper use of cess funds for tobacco-growing regions. Khan led a seven-member delegation that met with Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who, after the meeting, pledged to address farmers’ concerns on a priority basis.

    Khan also claimed exports declined due to harassment of small dealers by tax authorities and said the governor promised to convene a joint meeting with companies and PTB officials after Eidul Fitr to seek solutions.

  • Zimbabwe Getting ‘Climate Smart’ in its Climb to 500M Kg

    Zimbabwe Getting ‘Climate Smart’ in its Climb to 500M Kg

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry is set to transition from rain-fed farming to “climate-smart production” (i.e. drought-tolerant varieties, improved crop rotation, improved soil management, etc.) under the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan 2 (2026–2030), unveiled at a stakeholder workshop on February 19. The blueprint targets production of 500 million kg of tobacco annually and aims to grow the sector’s value from $1.2 billion to $7 billion by 2030, while increasing value addition from 11% to 30%. Officials said the plan will localize at least 70% of industry financing, expand export markets under the “Zimbabwe Tobacco” brand, and align production with Environmental, Social and Governance standards, including mandatory afforestation, elimination of child labor, and implementation of a digital traceability system to enhance sustainability and global competitiveness.