Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has reported that farmers planted 27,215 hectares of tobacco for the 2025–26 season — a 22% rise from last season’s 22,392 hectares, which generated $1.2 billion in sales. The increase is notable given TIMB’s recent disclosure that only 66% of farmers had registered by the deadline two weeks ago.

Regional totals show strong gains: Mashonaland East led with a 41% jump, followed by Manicaland (17%) and Mashonaland West (15.4%). Midlands and Masvingo also posted increases, though on smaller scales. TIMB added that a record 23,517 hectares will be irrigated this season, an important development considering small-scale farmers produced more than 85% of last year’s crop.

Zimbabwe remains Africa’s largest tobacco producer and the world’s sixth biggest, supporting over 160,000 households and accounting for more than half of the country’s agricultural exports.

This article was adapted from an original report published on tobaccoreporter.com. All rights belong to the original publisher.