Zimbabwe Faces Major Tobacco Production Drop Due to Drought
After a record harvest last year, Zimbabwe anticipates a significant decline in tobacco yields, attributing the downturn to climate change-induced drought and El Niño effects.
- Zimbabwe, Africa's largest tobacco producer, projects a sharp decrease in tobacco production from 326,000 tons last year to about 259,000 tons this season.
- The drought, exacerbated by climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon, is blamed for the expected drop in harvests and quality.
- Small-scale farmers, who produce about 75% of Zimbabwe's tobacco and rely on rainwater, are particularly vulnerable to the adverse weather conditions.
- China, the primary buyer of Zimbabwe's tobacco, plays a central role in the country's tobacco industry through a grower contract system, financing about 95% of the crop.
- The drought is likely to reduce farmers' earnings by 20% or more, with many predicting the need for food assistance as the drought impacts both cash crops and staple foods.
Fox News 
Associated Press 