The 2024 tobacco marketing season in Mashonaland East Province is proving to be both robust and rewarding, with more than 23 million kilogrammes of the golden leaf sold to date, raking in over US$76 million across nine contract auction floors. As the province continues to shine on the national tobacco production stage, the mood among farmers is one of confidence, pride, and renewed optimism.
The steady progress of the season has not gone unnoticed. During a recent tour of the Marondera auction floors, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, hailed the province’s strong showing. “As a province, we are proud to be making such a meaningful contribution to national tobacco production. We will continue supporting our farmers to sustain and grow this momentum,” he said, reinforcing government’s ongoing commitment to agriculture-led economic development.
For the thousands of tobacco farmers who call Mashonaland East home, this season is more than just a good harvest, it’s a tangible payoff from years of improved agronomic practices, strengthened contract systems, and increased institutional support. From communal farmers to A1 resettled growers, many credit their success to training programmes, access to inputs, and predictable market structures that have elevated tobacco from a survival crop to a true economic enabler.
“I am very pleased with the way this season has progressed. Since I started growing tobacco, my life has changed significantly,” said one farmer at the Marondera floors. Another echoed the sentiment, adding, “We are grateful for the support we have received from government and stakeholders. Tobacco has truly empowered us economically.”
According to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, more than 23,000 hectares were placed under tobacco this season in the province, a remarkable feat given climate variability and rising input costs. Crop specialist Mr Moses Mutero confirmed that yields are meeting expectations. “We had our target for this year, and we are very excited we have managed to get a good yield this season, which shows we are going in the right direction,” he said.
Beyond just numbers, tobacco farming in Mashonaland East continues to serve as a cornerstone of rural livelihood. It drives incomes, supports school fees, and powers small rural economies through employment and value chain linkages. The government’s emphasis on tobacco as a pillar of the province’s GDP is both strategic and necessary, given its export value and role in uplifting communities.
Analytically, the 2024 marketing season illustrates the strength of Zimbabwe’s hybrid tobacco model, blending traditional know-how with modern commercial systems. It also reflects the benefits of decentralising auction facilities, bringing markets closer to farmers and reducing transaction costs. What’s unfolding in Mashonaland East is not just a success story for the golden leaf, but a broader narrative of how structured investment, smart policy, and farmer resilience can drive inclusive economic growth.
As the season continues, all eyes remain on how Mashonaland East will close out its harvest. But one thing is clear, the province is not just selling tobacco. It is selling a sto
ry of transformation, pride, and rural empowerment.
