HARARE — Zimbabwe’s tobacco sales volumes have risen sharply this season, but farmers are earning significantly less per kilogramme after prices dropped by nearly a quarter compared to last year.
Presenting an update during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet briefing, Agriculture Minister Anxious Jongwe Masuka said 203.88 million kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold by day 42 of the marketing season.
“As at day 42, a total of 203. 88 million kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold at an average price of US$2.59 per kilogramme,” Cabinet said.
Government said this represented “a 35% increase in volume and a 24% decline in average price compared to the same period in 2025.”
The figures suggest farmers are selling larger quantities of tobacco this season but receiving lower returns due to falling prices.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector remains one of the country’s biggest foreign currency earners, with thousands of small-scale farmers dependent on the crop for income.
The update came as Cabinet received an overview of the 2025/2026 summer crops marketing season and the 2026 winter production plan chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
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