by Stephen Chandisareva.
Harare. (News of the South) – More than 100,000 farmers have registered to grow tobacco in the 2017-2018 farming season, a 36 percent increase from 73,492 in the previous season, statistics has shown.
Tobacco farming used to be a preserve for commercial farmers, but it has fast became an attractive source of livelihood for many of Zimbabwe’s small scale and small farmers.
Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) reveals that 25,852 new farmers have registered to grow tobacco compared to 13,842 last year.
And the registration is still going on
Meanwhile, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reviewed up the incentive to
Tobacco Associations from 5% to 12, 5% aimed at boosting the 2018 marketing season.
In 2014, the tobacco export earnings raked in $772, 6 million, rising
to $855 million in 2015. It further grew to $933, 3 million in 2016 and it is projected to grow to $980 million by year-end.
China has remained the country’s top tobacco destination followed by
South Africa, Belgium, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
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