TOBACCO INDUSTRY RECORDS GROWTH AS TBZ PROJECTS STRONG 2026 HARVEST

The Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ) has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the tobacco industry in the first quarter of 2026, citing increased grower participation and favorable weather conditions.

TBZ Executive Director, Robert Mwale, said the sector has recorded growth in the number of registered growers, rising from 42,000 last season to 46,000 this year.

Mr. Mwale attributed the positive outlook to favorable rainfall patterns, which have supported crop development, particularly for rain-fed tobacco, despite isolated cases of hailstorms.

“We are happy that the rainfall pattern has been excellent, and this is particularly good for a good harvest, especially for the rain-fed crop,” he said.

He further called on stakeholders to sustain the momentum and continue supporting the growth of the industry.

The Board also indicated that the market is ready for the upcoming sales season, with 16 licensed tobacco buyers and 25 licensed sales floors established across the country to enhance accessibility for farmers.

“This means that there is more than enough capacity to buy the crop, and we have decentralized the sales floors to ensure that we capture all our growers and that they should not travel long distances,” Mr. Mwale said.

He assured farmers of a ready market, encouraging them to take advantage of competitive prices during the selling season.

“We assure all growers that their crop will be bought, so we encourage them to take advantage of the competitive prices,” he added.

Meanwhile, TBZ announced that the official marketing season is scheduled to commence on April 13, 2026.