The traditional mid-February start to the tobacco marketing season likely will be delayed one month due to rains, the Zimbabwe Herald said.

Rains have delayed maturation of a substantial portion of the crop, the newspaper said in a story citing Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chief executive, Dr Andrew Matibiri. TIMB teams are assessing the situation and a decision on starting marketing season could come as early as next week, when the TIMB board meets, the newspaper said.
Growers of irrigated crop mostly were curing their tobaccos, a product that largely is not put up for auction, but delivered to contract buyers, the newspaper said on its website.