Zimbabwe Achieves Record-Breaking Tobacco Sales in 2025, Surpassing 300 Million Kilograms

Harare: Zimbabwe has achieved an unprecedented milestone in its tobacco sector, with sales surpassing 300 million kilograms of tobacco leaves since the marketing season began in March 2025-the highest production in the country's history, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). According to Yemen News Agency, this accomplishment exceeds the previous record of 296 million kilograms set in 2023, generating over $1 billion in revenue for farmers and providing a significant boost to the national agricultural economy. In a statement on Wednesday, Chelsani Tsarwei, TIMB spokesperson, described this season as "historic", commending the efforts of all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. She emphasized the need to shift focus from production volume to enhancing value addition through local processing, improving farmers' incomes, diversifying markets, and adopting environmentally sustainable farming practices. This aligns with the government's Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, l aunched in 2021, which aims to turn the sector into a $5 billion industry by the end of this year. Tobacco remains a pillar of Zimbabwe's economy, primarily exported to China and South Africa, and serves as a vital income source for rural communities.