Zimbabwean tobacco farmers face poverty due to low prices and high input costs

He travels nearly 80km to Karoi town to sell his crop and recently earned less than US$600 from 1,000kg of tobacco, with prices as low as 80 cents per kilogramme. This situation is common among many small-scale growers in Zimbabwe's tobacco sector, where a global oversupply is driving down prices, turning the once-celebrated "golden leaf" into a source of debt. George Seremwe, president of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association, expressed concern over the low prices and has submitted a request to the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board TIMB for increased prices to cover production costs.

He called for government intervention through a viable local funding model, noting that many farmers are working for foreign-based companies, leading to local financial losses. An anonymous buyer from an international company stated that prices are expected to remain subdued due to global oversupply and urged TIMB to use market research to guide production targets for long-term sustainability. Tian Ze Tobacco Company, a major contractor, registered 220 farmers for the 2024/25 season, with numbers slightly dropping to around 190 for the 2025/26 season, and plans to focus on quality over quantity.

Another merchant emphasized the need for local financing, as international companies often use offshore accounts. TIMB chief executive officer Emma