Zimbabwe will not meet its tobacco production target of 170 million kg this year due to unfavourable weather and handling losses, according to The Standard.

Citing Andrew Matibiri, chief executive of the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board and board statistics, the newspaper said tobacco production was 11 per cent higher than one year ago at 129.9 million kg shortly before the end of the selling season. At best, sales volume will reach 140 million kg this year, The Standard reported. (pi)