Zimbabwe Launches 2025 Tobacco Marketing Season with Optimism
Zimbabwe’s 2025 tobacco marketing season commenced, with expectations for increased output due to favorable weather. The industry anticipates over 280 million kg of tobacco, following a poor performance last year. Notably, China’s demand is vital for this growth, as it remains the largest consumer of Zimbabwean tobacco, crucial for the country’s economy.
Zimbabwe officially commenced its 2025 tobacco marketing season on Wednesday, signaling positivity among stakeholders regarding enhanced production this year, attributed to favorable rainfall conditions. The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board Chairman, Patrick Devenish, is optimistic about recovering output levels, following a decrease last year due to an El Nino-induced drought.
Devenish conveyed expectations of a significant crop yield, projecting over 280 million kilograms, an improvement over last year’s yield of more than 240 million kilograms, which generated over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in export earnings. The tobacco harvest season in Zimbabwe typically spans from January to July.
Moreover, he highlighted China’s pivotal role as the largest consumer of Zimbabwe’s tobacco. Devenish noted that China has a growing demand for Zimbabwe’s tobacco leaf, which is anticipated to further enrich the sector this year.
As Devenish stated, “Chinese are our biggest and best customer. They take our best tobacco, and they pay the top prices. We expect that to continue. So, we really value them as a customer.” Tobacco is predominantly cultivated by small-scale farmers and stands as Zimbabwe’s leading agricultural export, contributing significantly to its foreign currency earnings.
The initiation of Zimbabwe’s 2025 tobacco marketing season is marked by heightened optimism due to favorable rainfall and projected higher outputs. With expectations of over 280 million kilograms, stakeholders foresee enhanced economic contributions, especially with China’s increasing demand for Zimbabwean tobacco, solidifying the sector’s crucial position in the national economy.
Original Source: english.news.cn
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