Harare, (New Ziana) – Tobacco farmers have planted a record 162 625 hectares for the 2025/26 season, marking a significant 42 percent increase from the previous year and underscoring renewed confidence in one of the country’s most important export sectors, a senior Government official has said.
Posting on his official X handle, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana said the sharp expansion is attributable to favourable prices, a more organised marketing system and improved seasonal conditions, which have encouraged more farmers — particularly in the communal and A1 resettlement sectors — to increase production.
“Zimbabwean farmers have planted a record 162,625 hectares of tobacco for the 2025/26 season, a 42% increase from the previous year. This expansion, driven by favorable prices, an organized market, and improved seasonal conditions, reflects growing confidence among farmers, particularly in the communal and A1 sectors.
“The national focus is now shifting from merely producing raw “golden leaf” to enhancing quality and moving up the value chain through local processing and export of finished products,” Mangwana said.
Tobacco remains Zimbabwe’s top agricultural export, earning hundreds of millions of United States dollars annually and supporting thousands of rural households.
With planting now complete in most tobacco-growing areas, Mangwana said attention is shifting from hectarage growth to quality and value addition.
Authorities and industry players say the national priority is no longer just the production of raw “golden leaf”, but the enhancement of quality and the development of local processing capacity to enable the export of finished tobacco products.
“The sector’s structure has been transformed since land reform, with over 85 percent of the crop now grown by smallholder farmers. Industry bodies emphasize that strict adherence to best practices in cultivation and post-harvest handling will be crucial to convert this record hectarage into high-quality leaf, which commands better prices,” Mangwana said.
This shift has broadened participation in the lucrative industry, and also places greater emphasis on training, extension support and compliance with recommended agronomic practices.
Industry bodies have urged farmers to strictly adhere to best practices in cultivation, curing and post-harvest handling to ensure the record hectarage translates into high-quality leaf that commands premium prices on the international market.
Farmers are optimistic that, if weather conditions remain favourable, the country could surpass last season’s record output of 355 million kilogrammes.
Beyond higher volumes, stakeholders say the ultimate goal is to increase earnings through improved quality and greater value addition within Zimbabwe, strengthening the sector’s contribution to economic growth and rural development.
New Ziana
