Zimbabwe 2015 tobacco sales down 8.5 percent after drought

 

HARARE (Reuters) Zimbabwe's tobacco sales have dropped 8.5 percent to 188.5 million kilogrammes this year after drought in southern Africa affected production of the country's top export earner, an official said on Thursday.
Andrew Matibiri, chief executive of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, said farmers were paid $555 million for tobacco sold to auctions and private companies, down from $654 million in 2014. The Tobacco selling season ended on Wednesday. Continued