THE local tobacco industry has scored a first after reaching the 300 million kilogrammes mark this season amid increased interest in the golden leaf's production.
In a statement, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) said the country has made a global impact through tobacco production.
“This year’s marketing season has been historic. As of 18 June 2025, Zimbabwe has sold over 300 million kilogrammes of tobacco — a new record,” TIMB said.
“Farmers have earned more than US$1 billion, another milestone worth celebrating. While this reflects resilience and hard work across the value chain, the ideal future is not just about record volumes. It is about increased local processing, enhanced farmer earnings, diversified markets and environmentally sustainable practices. We must shift from volume-driven horizontal growth to value-driven (vertical) growth.”
Stakeholders have applauded the historical figures that coincided with the appointment of Emmanuel Matsvaire as substantive chief executive officer earlier this month.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Farmers and Growers Association president George Seremwe, however, called for an improvement in tobacco prices to benefit farmers.
“As tobacco stakeholders, we celebrate this milestone together as it has added value for the golden leaf production and made global inroads for the nation. Zimbabwe farmers are hardworking and deserve all the support to continue making positive strides in tobacco production,” he said.
“We are grateful that the regulatory body set targets, and we met them as a unified force. We worry that there must be an improvement for farmers’ livelihoods. We need more money in our pockets to continue making positive moves on tobacco production.”
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A senior buyer was also cautious about the country's global inroads.
“This achievement is a commendable milestone for the country. Tobacco has benefited from ideal weather conditions and last year’s average price was appealing,” the buyer said.
“However, there is growing concern about whether we can secure a market for this year’s crop, since Brazil has also produced a surplus. Current indications are that the Brazilian crop is selling at about US$1 per kg less than what Zimbabwe is offering for the same grades. We must be positive and maintain the production standards.”
Zimbabwe is set to earn over US$1 billion from tobacco sales and part of the value addition chain.
Last year, Zimbabwe exported 234 million kilogrammes of the golden leaf.
Tobacco plantings increased to 125 000 hectares (ha) this past season, up from 113 000ha the previous year.
The number of tobacco growers grew 11% to 127 311, with smallholder farmers accounting for 85% of the crop.
Of late, calls have been made for the country to have more tobacco processing plants rather than selling the raw materials to the outside market.
