Story by Jerold Sasa
THE success of the tobacco crop during the 2024/25 summer cropping season has inspired farmers to set new targets for the upcoming season.
This has resulted in increased ambition and acreage as the country aims to surpass recent output records.
One of Mashonaland East’s most prominent tobacco farmers, Mr Morris Nhata, is leading the charge, having already begun land preparations for the forthcoming season.
Mr Nhata cultivated 400 hectares of tobacco last season and is targeting 500 hectares this year, a significant increase in his contribution to national output.
“Last year I had 400 hectares, but this year I want to surpass that as I’m aiming for 500 hectares. We want to make a big contribution towards tobacco production in our province,” he said.
The importance of early preparation has become a key talking point among agricultural experts, particularly as farmers look to capitalise on recent momentum in the sector.
“We urge our farmers to put their seeds early so that they will not rush at a later stage, including those on irrigation and dry land,” Mr John Tsapo, a farm manager, said.
“Land preparation is very key in tobacco production, so I urge farmers to prioritise it to boost yield,” Mr Ian Nhata said.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry is riding high on the back of a successful 2025 marketing season, with deliveries of the golden leaf surpassing the revised target of 330 million kilograms.
In response, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has raised its expectations, now targeting over 340 million kilograms before the close of the season.
With enhanced preparations already underway and farmers scaling up operations, the sector is poised to play an even greater role in Zimbabwe’s export earnings and rural economic development in the forthcoming season.
