The Tobacco Association of Zambia – TAZ has revealed that it members expect Virginia tobacco exports of approximately $92 million p and Burly Tobacco exports of approximately $6 million (combined about $100 million) to be earned by its member farmers as export revenues.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, TAZ General Manager Adam Gordon said Virginia tobacco production increased while Burly tobacco production remained flat between 2020/2021 to 2021/2022 farming season.
Zambia exports over 90% of all its tobacco production, which Agronomists say can be economically leveraged to increase foreign exchange earnings and boost employment in the Agro sector. Zambia has the requisite good soils and weather to massively increase production and earnings from Tobacco.
The TAZ GM explained that Virginia tobacco production increased in volume from 31 million Kg’s to 33 million Kg’s from 2021 to 2022 whilst Burly tobacco remained constant at about 5.5 million kilograms.
Zambia’s neighboring countries like Malawi and Zimbabwe have succeeded in making Tobacco a major foreign exchange earner. If well organized, this crop which is 90% exported makes more business sense to cultivate and can earn the farmers and the country significant amounts in foreign exchange and profits.
See other ZBT article on tobacco farming in Zambia https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/tbz-invests-in-electronic-platform-to-facilitate-tobacco-industry-regulation/ and https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/ritco-to-launch-first-cutrag-plant-in-zambia/
