Zimbabwe officially closed the tobacco marketing season earlier this month with a record-breaking output of 352.7 million kilogrammes, worth a total 1.2bn.
This year's tobacco output, which surpassed the target of 300 million kgs, increased by 53 from last year's harvest. In 2023, the country recorded 296 million kgs, following a downturn in 2024 when output slowed to 234 million kgs due to a destructive El Nio-induced drought.
While the 2025 rebound to a new record may appear encouraging, experts warn that without interventions like expanded irrigation systems, future tobacco harvests will be exposed to climate-related weather shocks.