Tobacco Gold: 2026 Season To Open In Early March

Itai Mazire

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has officially set the stage for the 2026 tobacco marketing season, announcing that the golden leaf will begin hitting the floors in early March.

In a statement that has sent ripples of excitement through the agricultural sector, the regulator confirmed that auction tobacco sales will commence on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, followed by contract tobacco sales on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

The announcement brings much-needed clarity to thousands of growers across the country who have been meticulously preparing their crop for the market.

Butressing the importance of quality, the TIMB issued a spirited call to action in Shona: “Ngatigadzirei fodya yemandorokwati nokuti fodya yakanaka inozvitengesa yoga!” (Let us prepare high-quality tobacco because good tobacco sells itself!)

In a move aimed at ensuring the viability of tobacco farming, the TIMB has maintained a favorable payment structure for the upcoming season.

Growers are set to receive a significant portion of their earnings in hard currency, providing a crucial buffer against local inflationary pressures.

“TIMB wishes to advise tobacco growers that for the 2026 Marketing Season they will receive 70 percent of their payments in foreign currency (USD) while the remaining 30 percent will be paid in local currency (ZiG),” TIMB stated.

This 70/30 split is expected to empower farmers to reinvest in their operations, procure essential inputs, and settle international obligations, further cementing tobacco’s status as the nation’s premier foreign currency earner.

The 2026 season opens under the shadow of a historic 2025 performance, where the industry shattered multiple records.

Last year, Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector reached unprecedented heights, driven by favorable weather conditions and increased hectrage.

The jump from 232 million kilograms in 2024 to over 350 million kilograms in 2025 represented a monumental leap for the industry.

This surge in production saw earnings soar to a staggering US$1.2 billion, providing a massive boost to the national treasury.

As the 2026 season approaches, stakeholders are optimistic that the momentum from the previous year’s record-breaking harvest will carry forward. With the auction floors set to open in just a few weeks, all eyes are now on the quality of the leaf and the opening prices, as Zimbabwe looks to maintain its position as a global tobacco powerhouse.