The Chairman of the Tobacco Stakeholders in Chunya District, Mbeya Region, Cuthberth Mwinuka, has urged tobacco farmers to adhere to agricultural guidelines and practices to achieve high-quality and high-yield harvests.

Mwinuka, who is also the District Agricultural Officer, made this call during a feedback meeting on the evaluation of the tobacco crop for the 2024/2025 agricultural season, held at the Mkwawa Company meeting hall.

He stated that despite efforts to encourage farmers to follow farming principles to achieve better and higher yields, it is essential to understand that farmers who violate these guidelines face penalties, including fines, imprisonment, or both.

He added that these penalties apply to those who leave tobacco stalks and seedlings in the field, which leads to damage to other crops.

Nicholaus Mauya, the Director of the Tobacco Board of Tanzania, urged cooperative leaders to take the lead in overseeing farmers, ensuring that they value every tobacco leaf and protect its quality to increase the productivity of the crop.

Mauya emphasized that these steps would help farmers earn higher incomes, as they will follow the correct procedures from planting to harvesting, which has been a source of wealth for the residents of Chunya District.

"Leaders, set an example during harvesting; the procedure is to harvest from the bottom leaves upwards, and extension officers should assist farmers to ensure they follow good agricultural practices to compete in the market," said Mauya.

For his part, the General Manager of the Chunya District Tobacco Farmers Association (CHUTCU), Juma Nshinshi, urged cooperative leaders to be more diligent in managing the association’s assets and to emphasize to farmers the importance of curing their tobacco early to ensure timely sales at the auction.

Boniface Richard from Global Leaf Tanzania requested cooperative leaders to provide accurate estimates of crop collection to align with actual harvest conditions

Godfrey Gobbo from Mkwawa Tobacco Company emphasized that they would continue educating farmers about the challenges that arise during evaluations to avoid losses of crops in the fields.

​Tanzania's tobacco industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, positioning the country as Africa's second-largest tobacco producer, following Zimbabwe.​

In the 2023/2024 season, Tanzania's tobacco production reached approximately 122,858 metric tons, a significant increase from 50,000 tons in the previous season. Looking ahead, the government has set ambitious targets of 200,000 tons for the 2024/2025 season and 300,000 tons for the 2025/2026 season.

Tobacco exports have become a crucial component of Tanzania's economy. As of December 2023, tobacco exports were valued at $316 million, with projections suggesting the figure could reach $400 million by the end of the 2023/2024 season. For the 2024/2025 season, Tanzania aims to generate $667.9 million in tobacco product revenues.

The Tanzanian government has implemented strategic policies to support tobacco production, including providing subsidies, collaborating with leaf companies for crop purchases, and investing in processing infrastructure.

Projections indicate that Tanzania's tobacco market will continue to grow, with revenues expected to reach $764.8 million by 2029, reflecting an annual growth rate of 3.44 percent. 

This growth is attributed to supportive government policies, increased investment in processing facilities, and a focus on improving production quality and efficiency.