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Tag: tobacco farmers

  • Zimbabwe Reports 50% Firewood Reduction in Tobacco Curing

    Zimbabwe Reports 50% Firewood Reduction in Tobacco Curing

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector introduced curing technologies that have reduce firewood consumption by 50%, Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka said at the CORESTA Congress 2026 in Victoria Falls. The Kutsanga organization has developed a rocket barn designed to improve curing efficiency, while the government is promoting alternative fuels and has waived the coal levy to encourage adoption. Masuka said the government plans to begin phasing out the use of indigenous trees during the 2027-2029 seasons and is encouraging tobacco contractors to adopt alternative fuels.

    Kutsanga board Chairman Aaron Denenga said the organization is working with contractors and government departments on technologies and education aimed at reducing firewood use and reliance on indigenous timber. Approximately 135,000 predominantly smallholder farmers produce 85% of Zimbabwe’s tobacco.

  • Zimbabwe Closing In on $7 Billion Tobacco Industry Target

    Zimbabwe Closing In on $7 Billion Tobacco Industry Target

    Zimbabwe is targeting a $7 billion tobacco industry by 2030 and could reach the goal ahead of schedule, Agriculture, Mechanization and Water Resources Development Minister Anxious Masuka said Oct. 26 at the 70th CORESTA Congress in Victoria Falls. The country aims to increase annual tobacco production to 500 million kilograms by 2030, from approximately 358 million kilograms in 2026. Masuka said growth would depend on higher yields, reduced post-harvest losses, and increased domestic processing rather than expanding cultivated land.

    Zimbabwe earns about $1.2 billion annually from semi-processed tobacco exports, supporting nearly 2 million people through direct and indirect employment. Smallholder farmers account for about 95% of growers and produce approximately 85% of the crop. The government plans to expand domestic manufacturing of cigarettes, shisha, and other tobacco products while moving away from indigenous firewood for tobacco curing by 2027 and promoting alternatives such as rocket barns.

  • CORESTA Holds 70th Congress in Zimbabwe

    CORESTA Holds 70th Congress in Zimbabwe

    The Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) opened its 70th congress in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on Oct. 25, bringing together more than 330 delegates from 30 countries. CORESTA President Helena Digard called for greater international research collaboration, transparency, and adoption of emerging technologies. Held under the theme “Science for Sustainability and Harm Reduction in the Transforming Tobacco Landscape,” the congress covers agricultural research, product characterization, toxicology, exposure science, biomarkers, and analytical methodologies.

    The event marks CORESTA’s 70th anniversary and is the first time Zimbabwe has hosted the congress in 63 years, according to Kutsaga Research Board Chairperson Aaron Denenga.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • Zimbabwe Posts Record Tobacco Production, Prices Fall

    Zimbabwe Posts Record Tobacco Production, Prices Fall

    Zimbabwe ended its 2026 tobacco marketing season with a record harvest of more than 357 million kg, surpassing the previous season’s record of 354.8 million kg, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). The average tobacco price, however, fell to $2.49 per kg from about $3.30 a year earlier due to increased global supply, larger carry-over stocks, and weaker international demand.

    The decline in prices renewed calls from the TIMB and growers to diversify into horticulture and other cash crops to reduce exposure to market volatility and climate risks. China remained Zimbabwe’s largest tobacco export market, accounting for 34% of export volumes since the marketing season opened in March.