FOR Rainos Kamutsa (54), a contracted tobacco farmer in Hurungwe East, Mashonaland West province, hope is wearing thin.
For the past five years, the farmer from Chinhere village under Chief Mjinga has felt tied to his contractor, supplying inputs at a cost that keeps him from gaining financial independence.
“I am still yet to gain full control of my tobacco farming,” said a dejected Kamutsa.
“I get inputs for a hectare, but they are too expensive when we remit the loans, making life tough for me and my family under contract farming.”
Annually, he travels nearly 80km to Karoi town to sell his crop following the decentralisation of tobacco auction floors across the country.
This year, he is among numerous farmers facing distress over poor sales, a situation many describe as the final blow.
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“The devil is smiling at us and misfortunes are mounting,” Kamutsa said after earning less than US$600 from 1 000kg of the golden leaf.
“The low price of 80 cents per kilogramme break our souls. It’s pathetic.
“Only a few will repay loans and make it to next season.”
His story reflects a harsh reality gripping Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector, where a global oversupply is driving down prices.
Once celebrated as the golden leaf, the crop has become a source of deepening debt for many small-scale growers.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association president George Seremwe expressed concern over the low prices.
“Indeed, the farmers are not making any profits and we have made a submission to the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) for increased prices so that farmers can cover production costs. Contract farmers are paying the hard way,” Seremwe said.
He called for government intervention through a viable local funding model.
“Most of them are working for foreign-based companies, where the financial losses are felt locally.
“The government must act and protect farmers.”
A buyer with an international company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said prices were expected to remain subdued.
“Prices are likely to be lower than last season due to global oversupply and Zimbabwe is planning for production without a potential solution for prices to help farmers,” he said.
He urged TIMB to adopt a more data-driven approach.
“As the regulator, TIMB is responsible for protecting the interests of farmers, processors and the environment,” he said.
“Fulfilling this duty requires looking beyond the simple drive for bigger harvests.
“By reinstating market research and using its findings to guide production targets, TIMB can help to rebalance the sector, safeguard farmer earnings and support long-term sustainability.”
Tian Ze Tobacco Company, one of the major contractors, registered 220 farmers for the 2024/25 season.
A source at the company, speaking on condition of anonymity, said numbers dropped slightly to around 190 for the 2025/26 season.
“We are expecting to buy 31 million kg of green tobacco this season. Tian Ze only does contract farming in Zimbabwe, but assists China Tobacco to source leaf from Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania,” the source said.
“We will focus on growing quality, not quantity.
“We may maintain our current contract scheme and provide necessary support to our contract farmers to grow better quality tobacco.”
Another merchant, who also requested anonymity, emphasised the need for local financing.
“Most of these international companies have offshore accounts and nothing is left to develop the sector,” he said.
“We need local financing for tobacco urgently.”
TIMB chief executive officer Emmanuel Matsvaire maintained that the regulator is committed to fair prices.
“As the TIMB, we remain committed to ensuring that the marketing system continues to evolve in a manner that safeguards the interests of farmers, promotes fair trade practices and enhances value for all stakeholders,” Matsvaire said.
“The 2026 tobacco marketing season has thus far progressed steadily since its opening earlier this month.”
Matsvaire stressed the importance of ethical conduct.
“As an industry, we must continuously strive to build trust, integrity and accountability across the entire tobacco value chain,” he added.
“Ethical conduct is no longer optional; it is fundamental to sustainability, market access and long-term growth.”
Last week, Cabinet approved a proposal by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister Anxious Masuka to guide the sector under the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan 2 (2026-30), which aims to build a US$7 billion tobacco industry.
According to Masuka’s submission, the plan’s objectives include enhancing productivity and farmer resilience by increasing production from 355 million kg to 500 million kg by 2030, localising tobacco financing to cover 70% of production costs and diversifying export markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
A total of 354,8 million kilogrammes was produced in the 2024-25 season, exceeding the target by 18,3%.
Masuka noted that by 2025, 67% localisation of funding was achieved, against a target of 70%, while value-addition increased from 2% to 10,78%.
“For the first time in the history of tobacco cultivation since 1895, growers earned a record US$1,2 billion, where 135 284 households are producing tobacco, reflecting a 37% increase from the 98 927 households involved in 2017,” Masuka said.
“Average earnings per grower rose to US$9 986 in 2025, reflecting a 77% increase from the US$5 651 earned in 2017, placing many tobacco farmers firmly in the upper-middle-income bracket.”
For farmers like Kamutsa, however, such figures offer little solace.
As the tobacco sector posts record aggregate earnings, many contracted growers say they are walking in the shadows of poverty, their gains swallowed by debt and unfavourable contract terms.