It’s a lie. White farmers not responsible for Zimbabwe’s recovering agriculture

TOBACCO

Production of Zimbabwe’s leading export crop, tobacco, plunged to a record low of 48 million kilogrammes in 2008, down from the previous peak of 237 million kg in 2000, the last crop before farm disruptions brought about by land redistributions.

Tobacco production has since rebounded, with a new production record of 259 million kg being recorded in 2019.

The latest available data from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) shows that communal farmers contributed the most to tobacco production in 2018 (with 87 million kg or 34%), followed by the resettled commercial (A2) sector, which produced 74 million kg or 29%. Resettled communal farmers accounted for 71 million kg or 28%.

Combined, communal farmers contributed 62% to Zimbabwe’s 2018 tobacco output.

In 2017, resettled commercial (A2) farmers contributed the most tobacco (62 million kg or 33%), but the two communal farmer segments accounted for a combined 52% of output.

Continued next page

(484 VIEWS)