The Zimbabwe tobacco industry has been gaining traction over the past three years, with tobacco expected to account for 40% of the country’s exports this year while 50% of the country’s population is dependent on the industry, acting minister for agriculture, mechanisation and irrigation development, Dr Ignatius Chombo, said recently. The tobacco auction floors opened on February 19 with a total of 86 000 growers selling their produce. The first bale was sold at US$4.85 per kilogram (last year’s price was $4.50 per kg). A statement by the agriculture department projects that 180 million kg of tobacco is expected to be sold on the floor this year, compared to 166 kg in 2013. Chombo (left) examines tobacco from the first bale that went on sale at the Tobacco Sales Floor while Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri (right) looks on. CAPTION Zimbabwe's acting agriculture minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and Tobacco Industry Marketing Board CE Dr Andrew Matibiri. Photo: TIMB
