Tobacco sales reached USD 325 million on day 35, with Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) reporting this was more than triple the amount recorded within the first 10 days of trading, reports New Zimbabwe.

In the same period last year, tobacco worth a total of USD 210 million was sold, with the current figures indicating an increase of 54.3 per cent. “In terms of quantity 120.6 million kilograms of tobacco have been delivered to date, up from 90,731,148 kgs delivered in the same period last year,” TIMB said in an update.
The average price for tobacco ranges between USD 2.76 and 2.69, well above last year’s price of USD 2.32 with the lowest price across segments at 10 cents per bale, the report said.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean forestry officials have raised alarm about the increasing number of trees being cut for tobacco curing, charcoal production and other purposes. The country loses more than 262,000 hectares per year, partly due to farming activities and fires.
Forestry Commission Director-General Abednigo Marufu recently told the media that the rate of deforestation in the country was alarming. “Within the next 10 years, we are likely to see a huge decrease in tobacco farming if alternatives are not found. We want to encourage chiefs to encourage sustainable tobacco farming.”