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There are positive prospects for the 2025 tobacco selling season following a bumper harvest projected to surpass 300 million kilogrammes attributed to good rainfall.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development on Tuesday, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chairperson Patrick Devenish was happy with the current projections of 280 million kilogrammes which he said will increase as the season progresses. “
“While we are cautious about making guarantees, we believe a 300-million-kilogram crop is achievable. I would like to applaud smallholder farmers, who have benefited significantly from the tobacco contracting system.
“The contracting system has been in place for some time but continues to strengthen, helping the smallholder sector to flourish. A significant part of the industry’s success is due to these farmers. Their yields have risen sharply, and the quality of their tobacco has improved as well. This has led to the emergence of a new rural middle class, boosting the desirability of our tobacco,” Davenish said.
Chelesani Tsarwe, the TIMB Public Affairs Officer, said her company has licensed 32 buyers and 43 contractors who will operate in 56 selling points across the country.
“The 2025 Tobacco Marketing Season is Officially Open, marking the start of another exciting period for Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry! The first bale was sold for $4.65. This season, 32 buyers and 43 contractors are buying from 56 selling points across Zimbabwe. TIMB is committed to ensuring that all tobacco growers have fair and convenient market access, and we are continuously engaging stakeholders to explore ways to improve accessibility,” Tsarwe said.
TIMB has also tightened its controls to ensure zero tolerance for tobacco-related criminality. The company is implementing a biometric fingerprint system to help deter would-be offenders who used to commit crimes using other people’s grower numbers. There is also an integrated IT system in place to monitor all transactions online and the system has been set to detect any form of criminalities by the industry players.
