HARARE: Zimbabwe’s Virginia tobacco exports rose 327 percent to 23.5 million kg last month from 5,5 million during the same period last year as prices firmed to $7.70 per kilogramme from $4.22 per kg during the prior period.
As a result earnings from the exports grew by 680 percent to $181.7 million during the period under review from $23.2 million during the comparative period last year.
Incidentally there were fewer importers during the month under review with only 22 countries showing interest compared to 26 during the same period last year.
China, which topped the importers’ list last year, also led during the month after spending $166.5 million on importing 19,1 million kg at an average price of $8.72 per kg followed by South Africa which imported 1,05 million kg for $3,3 million at $3,21 per kg and Russia which spent $925.402 on 667.200kg at $1.39 per kg.
Also in the top five importers were United Arab Emirates (UAE), which paid $2.5 million for 650034 kg at $3.97 per kg and Belgium which imported 393.470 kg for $1.8 million at $4.65 per kg.
During the same period last year China was the leading importer after buying 1.2 million kg for $11.8 million at $9,39 per kg followed by UAE which spent $3.9 million on 1.2 million kg at $3.19 per kg, Belgium that took up 749 520 kg at $1,2 million for $1,70 per kg, Vietnam 480 960 kg for $954 760 at $1,99 per kg and Russia 395 400 kg for $988 524 at $2,50 per kg.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco crop is highly regarded by most importers all over the world because of its high quality. Meanwhile the number of farmers that have registered for the season is now 88640, with the bulk 41 212 coming from the communal area followed by 32542 from the A1 sector, 7924 from the A2 sector and 6962 from the small scale sector.
Of the 88640 farmers, 30807 are in Mashonaland West, 26276 in Mashonaland Central, 15445 in Manicaland, 15276 Mashonland East, 447 midlands, 376 Masvingo and 13 in Matebelalnda.
New growers constituted about 18 percent or 16 540 of the registered farmers. Of these, 10105 are communal farmers, 5347 are A1, 546 A2 and 542 small-scale commercial farmers.
The largest group of new farmers are from Manicaland which has 5844 followed by Mashonaland Central with 4605, Mashonaland East 2939, Mashonaland West 2773, Matebeleland 203, Midlands 168 and Masvingo eight.
