Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of its tobacco sector amid a surge in global production that has increased competition among major tobacco-producing countries, an official said.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri said the country’s tobacco industry remains resilient despite record output from key producing nations, including Brazil, China, India, Zambia and Malawi.
He noted that increased production across these countries has resulted in a highly supplied global market, making quality and market positioning critical for producers.
“The global tobacco market is currently characterised by increased production from major producing countries, creating a highly supplied market environment.
“In such circumstances, Zimbabwe must focus on producing premium-quality tobacco that meets the expectations of international buyers,” said Prof Jiri.
The country is expecting tobacco output to exceed 380 million kilogrammes this season, one of the highest production levels in the country’s history.
Prof Jiri implored farmers to take advantage of the strong production momentum by prioritising quality management throughout the production cycle.
“As we move towards the next planting season, farmers should concentrate on growing appropriate tobacco varieties, maintaining high production standards and beginning seedbed preparations early to ensure a successful crop,” he said.
He also said government was actively engaging stakeholders to expand market opportunities and attract additional buyers to support the sector’s continued growth.
“Government is working tirelessly to secure more buyers and strengthen market access for our tobacco. Our objective is to ensure that local tobacco remains competitive and continues to command favourable prices on the international market,” he said.
Prof Jiri added that sustaining the country’s reputation for high-quality leaf tobacco would be crucial as competition intensifies among producing nations.
Tobacco remains the country’s single largest agricultural export and one of the country’s most important foreign currency earners.
The crop supports tens of thousands of farmers and workers across the value chain, from production and processing to transport and marketing.
However, industry experts have cautioned that rising global supplies could place pressure on prices, making quality improvement, value addition and market diversification increasingly important for maintaining profitability.
New Ziana
