Farmers in Zimbabwe have sold a 151mn kilogrammes of flue cured tobacco with an estimated worth of US$557mn since the beginning of the selling season in February 2013
Last year 144.5mn kilogrammes of tobacco was sold in the country, while expectations grew that the 171mn target would be exceeded by the close of the selling season, forecasters revealed.
The Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe has been reported to still be leading in tobacco sales with 51.6mn kilogrammes of the crop worth US$191mn having been sold by day 84 of the selling season.
Small scale farmers sold 10 per cent of the tobacco worth US$56mn and Burley tobacco farmers have sold 203 100kg worth an estimated US$302,823.
In the previous year, 9,415kg of the crop valued at US$22,165 was sold.
A total of 62,000kg worth US$95,200 of dark air cured tobacco have been sold compared to 145,456 worth US$223,698.
Farmers in Zimbabwe are expected to trade around 170mn kilogrammes on the market this selling season as tobacco can be sold at a high prices.