To date, Zimbabwean farmers have sold 102.3 million kilograms of tobacco worth us $305.2 million, 17 percent less than the same period last year, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board.
Of the tobacco sold so far, 95.3 million kilograms have been sold through the contract system, with the rest traded through auctions.
The average price so far is $2.98 per kilogram, up 10.53 percent from $2.70 per kilogram last year.
The tobacco sold this year was grown in adverse weather conditions, characterized by late and erratic rainfall.
Industry officials expect the country's farmers to harvest 210 million kilograms of tobacco this year, down from 250 million kilograms in 2021.