Tobacco has emerged in the past few years as one of Zimbabwe’s largest exports, accounting for a third of all foreign currency earnings, along with gold and other mineral commodities.
Tobacco has emerged in the past few years as one of Zimbabwe’s largest exports, accounting for a third of all foreign currency earnings, along with gold and other mineral commodities.
In 2000, Zimbabwe reached its peak of tobacco production at 237 million kg.
However, the sector was destabilised following the haphazard land reform and re-distribution programme embarked upon in 2000.
This affected production of crops such as tobacco, with output figures tumbling to record lows. In the seven years following the start of the violent seizures in 2000, Zimbabwe’s world rank as an exporter of top-grade or flue-cured tobacco slipped to sixth from second.
However, involvement of overseas companies has helped Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry recover.
