Deliveries to auction floors at 174 million kilogrammes may reach this year’s target of 185 million before what one official described as a difficult season closes on 15 July, the Zimbabwe Herald reported.

Last year 166 million kgs was sold at auction. Mop up sales will begin on 4 Aug, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief Andrew Matibiri was reported as saying. Deliveries at around 3,000 bales per day are down from peak deliveries between 8,000 – 10,000 bales, the Herald said.