Zimbabwe: Tobacco Output Seen Up in 2007

Source from:  Financial Gazette (Harare) January 18, 2007 01/19/2007

ZIMBABWE'S tobacco output is expected to rise to 70 million kg this year, up some 26 percent from its record lows in 2006, the country's largest growers' association has forecast. Zimbabwe auctioned 55.5 million kg of tobacco in the 2005/06 selling season, its smallest crop since independence, generating revenues of US$110.7 million. These earnings were down from the US$118.1 million achieved in 2005 for a 73.4 million kg crop that year. But the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) said this week preliminary assessments show that the 2007 tobacco crop will jump to 70 million kg, up from 55.5 million kgs in 2006. The ZTA's forecasts are based on increased seed sales. "Output (in 2007) is going to be much bigger than 2006. There is more tobacco planted and everyone started with full dams. If the season is kind to us it could go up to 70 million kg," ZTA president Andrew Ferreira said. Ferreira hailed this year's irrigated flue-cured crop -- the leaf mostly grown in Zimbabwe -- as an excellent crop. Growers had put between 45 000 to 50 000 hectares under tobacco, said Ferreira. He however warned farmers against late planting. "A lot of tobacco is being planted on the late side. Individual growers have to be conscious of the bushy top virus," warned the ZTA boss. Enditem