Zimbabwe records the highest sale of tobacco after selling 263,000 tonnes and making close to $800m this year. This has superseded the government’s target, which was to sell 230,000 tonnes by 2022/2023.

Good rains and an increase in tobacco farmers have been attributed to the increase in sales. According to the agriculture ministry, 85% of the production came from small-scale farmers.

According to the tobacco marketing authority, output is expected to rise further as farmers continue to deliver to the market.

Zimbabwe is Africa’s leading tobacco producer, exporting to China, the Middle East, and Europe. Tobacco is an important source of foreign currency.

Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s most vital foreign currency earner after gold. This has greatly improved the economy and has been a major source of income to the farmers.

However, tobacco farming has put Zimbabwe at risk of deforestation as many farmers use wood to cure the tobacco.

Tobacco is associated with a number of heath problems. When smoked, tobacco increase the risk of lung diseases, several types of cancers. But tobacco still remains in high demand and revenue from its sales keep increasing despite the risk factors associated with it.