Tobacco farmers have planted more than 97,000 hectares tobacco this year and may surpass the government production target for this year of 170 million kilogrammes, Bernama news agency reported.

Citing Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board Chief Executive Andrew Matibiri, Bernama said the planted area could produce 200 million kg under with good rains. The 2014 government target would represent a 2.6 per cent increase from 2013, Bernama said.