A worker sorts newly harvested tobacco leaves at a farm in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe, July 10, 2025. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) of Zimbabwe, the sector is witnessing record-breaking sales this year, with farmers already delivering more than 340 million kg of the golden leaf to the market, a significant hike from about 240 million kg last year. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)

HARARE, July 16 (Xinhua) -- A warm, earthy scent filled the grading shed as workers carefully sorted tobacco leaves at a farm in Beatrice, a rural area in Zimbabwe's Mashonaland East Province.

With practiced hands, they ensured each golden leaf met the high standards demanded by buyers.

Outside, a truck loaded with tightly packed bales rumbled toward the market, trailing dust along the winding country roads.

"In general, this growing season has been a very good one for most tobacco growers, especially the small-scale farmers. They have done exceptionally well, and overall, everyone has had a better yield per hectare than ever before," said Steve Riley, a tobacco farmer who has invested heavily in the crop, one of Zimbabwe's most lucrative exports.

Utilizing both rainfall and irrigation facilities at his farm, Riley successfully cultivated quality tobacco on 34 hectares of land last season. The harvest is now being delivered to the market.

In Zimbabwe, the tobacco marketing season, running from March to August, is a critical period in the agricultural calendar, given the crop's role as one of the country's top economic drivers and export earners.

For farmers like Riley, the marketing season is the most anticipated time of year, offering the long-awaited opportunity to reap the rewards of months of hard work and commitment in the fields.

Thanks to these sustained efforts, Zimbabwe's tobacco output is on the rise, further reinforcing the country's position as Africa's leading tobacco producer.

According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), the sector is witnessing record-breaking sales this year, with farmers already delivering more than 340 million kg of the golden leaf to the market, a significant hike from about 240 million kg last year.

This surge in production is attributed to several factors, including favorable rainfall, increased cultivated land, and a rising number of farmers, especially small-scale producers.

Tobacco hectarage expanded from 113,000 hectares in the 2023-2024 season to 125,000 hectares in the 2024-2025 season, according to TIMB. The number of registered growers also rose by 11 percent during the same period, reaching 127,311.

Following a successful farming and selling season, Riley is already preparing seedlings for the next planting cycle.

"We don't know what the weather is going to bring us next season. It could be a terrible drought, but we plan as if it's going to be a decent season," he said.

China, one of Zimbabwe's key trading partners, remains the largest importer of Zimbabwean tobacco, drawn by its high quality.

"Ours, in a nutshell, is a bit like the sugar in a cup of tea. It adds the flavor. And they (the Chinese) need the flavor, and Zimbabwean tobacco seems to be the quality they're really looking for," said Riley.

According to statistics from the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, tobacco exports to China increased by 17.3 percent in 2024.

The growing demand for Zimbabwean tobacco in international markets has spurred employment and economic activity in rural communities where the crop is cultivated. The government and industry stakeholders are now working to boost production, increase local value addition, and grow exports in the coming seasons.

Tacla Munemo, a farm head forewoman, said this season has been productive, and preparations for the next season are already in progress.

"We are expecting another yield like this next season. We have to work hard to achieve another bumper harvest and maintain the quality of the tobacco," she said. ■

A worker sorts newly harvested tobacco leaves at a farm in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe, July 10, 2025. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) of Zimbabwe, the sector is witnessing record-breaking sales this year, with farmers already delivering more than 340 million kg of the golden leaf to the market, a significant hike from about 240 million kg last year. (Xinhua/Xu Zheng)

Workers sort newly harvested tobacco leaves at a farm in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe, July 10, 2025. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) of Zimbabwe, the sector is witnessing record-breaking sales this year, with farmers already delivering more than 340 million kg of the golden leaf to the market, a significant hike from about 240 million kg last year. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)

A worker waters tobacco seedlings at a farm in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe, July 10, 2025. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) of Zimbabwe, the sector is witnessing record-breaking sales this year, with farmers already delivering more than 340 million kg of the golden leaf to the market, a significant hike from about 240 million kg last year. (Xinhua/Xu Zheng)

A worker sorts newly harvested tobacco leaves at a farm in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe, July 10, 2025. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) of Zimbabwe, the sector is witnessing record-breaking sales this year, with farmers already delivering more than 340 million kg of the golden leaf to the market, a significant hike from about 240 million kg last year. (Xinhua/Xu Zheng)