Zimbabwe's Tobacco Industry Expects Another Good Year

Source from:  Zambo Times 01/12/2012

HARARE - Zimbabwe's Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) on Wednesday said it is optimistic that production of tobacco will continue on the growth path this year despite challenges that farmers have been facing. Last year tobacco sales closed with about 131 million kg having gone under the hammer. Concerns have raised that tobacco production would decline this year due to challenges that farmers faced, mainly high cost of agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizer and chemicals. Tobacco is a capital intensive crop and many farmers in the country require support in the form of subsidies to produce the crop since most started growing it recently after being allocated land under the agrarian reforms. Over the past farming seasons, tobacco farmers have bemoaned lack of working capital to secure inputs, climatic changes and power outages that affected curing of the golden leaf. TIMB chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri quoted by New Ziana said the country's tobacco production was not anticipated to decline. "Financial constraints and power outrages have been major challenges that affected the tobacco industry but I would not say that these challenges would lead to a decline this year," he said. Matibiri said the board expected about 150 million kg to be sold this year. Marketing of the golden leaf is expected to start next month. Tobacco production has been the main driver behind the 34 percent growth in the agricultural sector. The tobacco industry in Zimbabwe is on a tentative the recovery path following a decade of decline when production dipped to a low of 48.8 million kg in 2008, down from a peak of well over 200 million kg in 2002. The adoption of multiple currencies in 2009 ignited recovery with about 60 million kg being produced that year, doubling to 123 million kg the following year. Enditem