Zimbabwe inches closer to 300m kg tobacco milestone

Published: 18 June 2025

Tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe have demonstrated remarkable resilience and productivity, setting a new national record in tobacco production with sales exceeding 299 million kilograms in the 2024 marketing season.

Official data from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) reveal that as of day 71 of the selling season, a total of 299,158,624 kilograms of tobacco had been sold, surpassing last year's record of 296 million kilograms.

This significant increase in output has translated into over US$1 billion in revenue for farmers, underscoring strong global demand for Zimbabwean tobacco and improved efficiencies in local production processes.

"Zimbabwe! We've officially broken our all-time tobacco production record of 296 million kgs," TIMB announced. "As of Day 71, a massive 299,158,624 kgs of tobacco have been sold and farmers have earned just over 1 billion USD. We're now just 841,376 kgs away from reaching the legendary 300 million kg milestone — the heart of our Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan!"

TIMB attributed this achievement to several factors, including increased hectarage under tobacco cultivation, favourable rainfall patterns, and the adoption of sustainable agronomic practices promoted under the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan (TVCTP). This plan aims to enhance local beneficiation, increase farmer profitability, and reduce the country's dependence on imports.

With the selling season still ongoing, industry stakeholders remain optimistic that Zimbabwe's prized golden leaf will continue to generate substantial economic returns for the nation.

Tobacco remains the crop with the highest economic return per hectare among all major agricultural products in Zimbabwe. The tobacco value chain supports over 1.2 million people directly, with an estimated six million dependants benefiting from the industry's contributions.
- the chronicle

Tags: Tobacco,