ZIMBABWE could lose its international tobacco market share if plantings, down by 20% over land grab worries, show no signs of recovery within the next two years, an industry official warned this week. Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) Marketing Director Pat Davis said early indications were that tobacco output would fall to around 170m kg next year from 230m kg this year because farmers, worried that they might not be allowed to reap their crop, had reduced hectarages by about 20%. Zimbabwe exports more than 80% of its tobacco, making it the third biggest player on the world market. – Reuters
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