Zimbabwe to Expand Tobacco Growth Next Season

Source from:  Xinhua  09/11/2006

Zimbabwe is expected to expand its tobacco growing areas for the 2006-2007 season by nearly 38 percent, an official said on Friday. A total of 55,000 hectares is expected to be put under tobacco in the 2006-2007 season compared to 40,000 ha for the 2005-2006 season, the official with Zimbabwe Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board said. Agribank and the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board are expected to support a total of 15,000 ha compared to 12,504 ha last year. Contractors were estimated to support 20,900 ha in comparison to 14,496 ha last season while financial institutions would finance 13,800 ha compared to 13,000 ha last season, he said. Power utility Zimbabwe Electric Supply Authority Holdings, which has ventured into tobacco farming as a way of raising foreign currency, is projected to contribute 5,300 ha. The National Economic Development Priority Program sub- committee on Tobacco Production Funding and Monitoring said most contractors had arranged off-shore facilities to fund contract growers and the facilities were being used to import fertilizers, chemicals, diesel and some capital items. It said seed purchases by growers showed that the target of 55, 000 ha for the coming season was achievable. There has been a significant improvement in the quality of flue-cured tobacco delivered to the auction floors this year, where a total of 53.4 million kilograms worth 107.4 million U.S. dollars went under the hammer compared to last year's 57.8 million kg worth 92.4 million U.S. dollars. The average selling price for the golden leaf this year has been 2.01 U.S. dollars in comparison to 1.60 U.S. dollars last year. Enditem