A survey by the Tobacco Commission (TC) and other players in the tobacco sector has shown that tobacco farmers are planning to increase land size for production in the 2023-24 farming season.
The November 2023 countrywide nursery assessment conducted to assess growers’ preparedness shows that there is 22.5 percent and 37 percent increase in seedbed area and planned hectarage, respectively, compared to last year.
TC Chief Executive Officer Joseph Chidanti Malunga described the results as a positive development.
“We are just worried about the apparent delays in the rains but we look forward to favourable weather conditions to help our farmers translate the planned hectare into actual production,” Malunga said.
TC has attributed the increased seedbed area and planned hectares to increase in quota for growers, farmers’ plans to cushion themselves against germination failure, increased sponsorship by tobacco buying companies and motivation triggered by better prices fetched in the 2022-23 tobacco marketing season.
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The report further notes that sampled nurseries looked good, the seedlings were healthy and most of the growers were following recommended agricultural practices.
During the 2022-23 farming season, 120 million kilogrammes (kg) of tobacco valued at $282.6 million was sold at an average price of $2.35.
This was an increase from 85 million kg of the tobacco valued at $182 million which was sold at an average price of $2.14 per Kg.
