Zimbabwe tobacco seed sales down 30%

Zimbabwe might register a decline in hectarage under tobacco crop next season as seed sales have declined by 30 percent compared to the same time last year.

With only two weeks left before the end of normal seed selling period, the uptake is down by 28,7 percent to 417 500 kilogrammes from about 585 200kg over the same period last year.

The seed sold so far will translate to 417 500 hectares, down from 585 200ha put under the tobacco crop last season. However, the decline in hectarage does not necessarily translate to lower production.

According to TIMB, just over 53 000 farmers have registered to grow the crop this year, compared to around 70 000 farmers at the same time last year.

Tobacco has become Zimbabwe's major foreign currency earner, with close to 92 000 farmers growing the crop, a number significantly higher than 52 000 farmers three years ago.