Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka (second from left) and Tobacco Industry Marketing Board chairman Mr Patrick Devenish (left) examine a tobacco leaf at the official opening of the 2025 Tobacco Marketing Season in Harare yesterday. – Picture: Justin Mutenda 
Precious Manomano, Herald Reporter
THE tobacco marketing season got off to a busy and promising start at auction and contract floors in Harare yesterday, amid high expectations that prices will firm as the season progresses.
At Tobacco Sales Floor (TSF), the first bale of the golden leaf sold for US$4,65 per kg, the highest across the sector but slightly lower than US$4,92/kg realised on the first day last season.
Contractors, buyers, vendors, stakeholders, and transport operators who spoke to The Herald said they were positive about the possibility of a highly rewarding marketing season.
With farmers and other stakeholders expecting a bumper harvest after favourable rains received across the country, the economy is also expected to reap huge benefits.
Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s third largest single export earner, raking in more than US$1,3 billion in 2024.
More than 150 000 households earn their living through tobacco production, underscoring the crop’s strategic value to the country and the rural economy.
The crop holds unlimited potential to drive Zimbabwe’s economy, with value-addition levels of tobacco in Zimbabwe rising from 3 percent to approximately 7 percent over the last few years, driven by investments in new facilities, the industry regulator said.
Farmers at the floors in Harare said they expected to pocket significantly higher earnings compared to last season given the expected higher output this year.
Mr Eldridge Masiiwa, a tobacco farmer from Macheke, said he would sell his crop next week after properly assessing the situation on the market.
“I will hold my crop until prices are better. The situation is not bad because prices are fair considering the leaf quality that we are seeing. This year, the leaf quality is better than last year, and we expect the crop to pay more than last year,” he said.
Mr Masiiwa cautioned fellow growers about the risks of robbery and exploitation.
Ms Alice Chakabva, a farmer from Marondera, described the marketing season as the best part of a farmer’s life.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka underscored the need for stakeholders to innovate to enhance tobacco production.
A record output of 296 million kg was achieved in 2023 while tobacco exports valued at US$1,24 billion were realised, underscoring Zimbabwe’s potential to continue to dominate the supply market.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) chairman Mr George Seremwe was also bullish about prospects for the year.
“We are anticipating that we are going to get higher prices. So far we have started with a lower price compared to last year.
“This year, we are anticipating more tobacco, and we hope that the Reserve Bank will ensure that the ZiG component remains strong so that farmers get value out of the ZiG,” he said.
Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) chairman Mr Patrick Devenish outlined measures to protect farmers and enhance transparency through the biometric grower management system.
The new system links each farmer’s unique grower number to their fingerprints, ensuring only genuine farmers participate in the market.
“The new system introduces biometric data capture. Therefore, all growers are encouraged to take advantage of the registration process, which will be carried out at licensed tobacco selling points,” Mr Devenish said.
Contract floors are expected to handle 95 percent of the crop. A total of 43 contractors and 32 Class A buyers have been licenced for the 2025 marketing season.
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