Tobacco farmers have already sold 190 million kg of leaf and are likely to surpass the targeted tobacco output of 200 million kg for the 2017/2018 marketing season, The Sunday Mail reported.

With 50 days remaining before the tobacco marketing season closes, 190 million kg of tobacco leaf has been sold at auction or under contract. 161 million kg has been sold under contract, with the remaining 28.3 million kg having been sold at the following auction floors: TSF (18.8 mln kg), Boka (4.9 mln kg), Premium (4.4 mln kg), The Sunday Mail said.
144,905 registered growers had sold USD 551 million (EUR 474.8 million) worth of tobacco by the close of day 56, up from the USD 440 million in sales generated in the comparable period last year. The newspaper reported the USD 110 million in extra revenues was due to improved leaf quality. The average price for leaf sold is USD 2.91, up just USD 0.01 on last season’s overall average of USD 2.90.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) public relations manager, Isheunesu Moyo, said, “There’s a big likelihood that the country may surpass the 200 million kgs targeted by Treasury given the amount of tobacco that has been delivered to the auction floors.” He added that TIMB is surprised by the sales volume, given dry conditions experienced mid-season.
“It’s also shocking that the last time we surpassed that mark was during the infamous El Nino phenomenon experienced during the 2015 /2016 summer cropping season,” said Mr Moyo.
This year’s crop is the third since 2010 which is expected to weigh in at more than 200 million kg.