Tobacco farmers poised to reap $113m from crop

ZAMBIAN farmers are posed to earn over US$113 million from the 45, 600 metric tonnes of tobbaco the country has produced, Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Songowayo Zyambo has said.

Mr Zyambo urged tobbaco marketing companies to offer a fair and equitable price that does not disadvantages producers.

He said the tobbaco industry was a key strategic industry that government supports because of the huge export earnings generated on an annual basis.

Mr Zyambo said this at the official opening of the 2021 tobbaco marketing season at the Tobbaco Association of Zambia in Lusaka yesterday.

He said more than 300, 000 Zambians derive their livelihoods from the production and marketing of tobbaco.

Mr Zyambo said there were about 21, 000 small- scale farmers and 200 commercial farmers producing tobbaco in various parts of the country.

He said this season’s tobbaco production had increased from 31, 000 metric tonnes last season.

“This is a big improvement and it demonstrates that the tobbaco industry is ready to take advantage of the huge export markets that are available. In addition, the estimated value of the tobbaco produced in the country is in excess of US$13 million,” he said.

Mr Zyambo encouraged all players in the industry to do more given the conducive policy environment, the favourable climatic conditions and the rich natural resource endowment that the country was blessed with.