Tobacco output this year may decline 10 per cent or more due to drought and a late start to the cropping season, according to a Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) assessment reported by The Herald.

Farmer organisations, including the National Farmers Union, say the drop in production could be as much as 20 per cent, the newspaper reported on its website. Last year output was nearly 200 million kgs. The estimates put the crop between 160 million and 180 million kgs.
Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s largest export commodity. Dr Delia Garwe of the Zimbabwe Research Board told The Herald this year’s crop would decline, however the quality should be “very good,” especially where irrigation was employed.