Staff Reporter

The 2025 Tobacco Marketing Season officially opens,today, as the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) unveils a new pricing system for contract tobacco sales aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness for farmers.

Under the new model, the minimum price for contract sales will be set by the average price of all tobacco sold at auction and through contracts on the previous day. The system uses the highest auction bid as the benchmark for contract prices based on a grade-price matrix, ensuring that prices more accurately reflect market dynamics.

TIMB confirmed the development on its official page on X, signaling a significant shift in how tobacco prices will be determined in Zimbabwe, where tobacco remains a critical export and economic pillar.

Industry stakeholders have expressed varied reactions to the change. Esther Takundwa, an influential market analyst, welcomed the new system.

"This pricing model is a welcome move that aligns contract prices with real-time market conditions. It will help protect farmers by ensuring their produce is valued based on transparent, day-to-day market performance," said Takundwa.

Another veteran tobacco farmer, Denzel Kamulanji, also welcomed the initiative.

"The new pricing system gives us a fairer deal. It mitigates the risk of price manipulation and ensures that our hard work translates into genuine market value, which is vital in today's volatile economic climate," he said.

With thousands of farmers expected to deliver their tobacco to the floors in the coming days, industry experts and stakeholders are watching closely to see how this new framework will impact overall earnings and market stability. While optimism prevails, some concerns linger regarding potential market manipulation and the effects on small-scale growers.

As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on the auction trends to gauge the effectiveness of this new pricing strategy in reinforcing Zimbabwe’s status as a leading global tobacco supplier.