THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) says deliveries are increasing daily following protests by farmers over low prices.
The season opened with a first-bale price of US$4,60 per kilogramme, slightly down from US$4,65 last year.
The prices, however, fell to as low as US$0,50-$0,60/kg on low-grade bales, forcing farmers to withhold their crop.
The government moved in and ordered licensed merchants to resume buying within two weeks or risk losing their licences, to improve competition and stabilise prices.
In a statement, TIMB said it was witnessing an increase in deliveries as more farmers completed curing and grading their crop.
“The TIMB remains committed to ensuring that growers receive fair value for their crop. We have strengthened monitoring mechanisms at all marketing floors to promote transparency, efficiency and compliance with regulations,” TIMB said.
The board added that the regulator was working closely with merchants, contractors and farmer representatives to ensure payments were processed on time and no producer was prejudiced during the marketing process.
“We are satisfied with the orderly marketing environment that we are witnessing so far.
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“TIMB continues to engage all stakeholders to make sure that the marketing season progresses without disruption and that farmers have confidence in the system.”
The tobacco industry is one of the country’s top foreign currency earners, with Mashonaland West among the leading producing provinces.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Marian Chombo on Wednesday toured tobacco sales floors in Karoi to assess progress in the 2026 tobacco marketing season.
She visited auction and contract floors where she interacted with growers, merchants and regulators, saying the tour was meant to appreciate the pace of deliveries and hear first-hand the concerns of farmers at the marketing stage.
“This visit is part of government’s ongoing efforts to monitor the tobacco marketing season on the ground and to ensure that farmers in Mashonaland West are fully supported,” she said.
“Tobacco remains a key pillar of our agricultural economy and it is important that marketing processes run smoothly so that growers benefit from their hard work.”
Reports indicate that the country sells about 95% of its tobacco through contract arrangements in which prices and offtake are agreed in advance between growers and merchants.
Only a small share of the crop is sold through the auction system.
TIMB expects tobacco sales this season to reach 400 million kilogrammes, up from 335 million kilogrammes last year.
