Tobacco crop up 40 percent

Zimbabwe’s tobacco output will increase by at least 40 percent this year because of a boost in funding to farmers from banks and firms, many of which are Chinese, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive Andrew Matibiri said today.  More than 30 000 small holder farmers have replaced white commercial farmers who had traditionally produced the crop. They are expected to sell about 170 million kgs this year up from 120 million kgs last year. Tobacco output reached a peak of 236 million kgs in 2000, the year the government embarked on its controversial land reform programme.

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