Zimbabwe’s tobacco board say a total of 53 065 farmers have so far registered to grow tobacco in the 2010/11 season amid reports that growers have delivered 109.6 million kilograms (241.6 million pounds) this year, compared with a crop estimate of 70 million kilograms.

This is the highest in eight years.

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board said by August 2, a total of 25 051 A1; 15 488 communal; 5 969 small-scale; 3 428 A2; and 1 893 commercial farmers had registered.

Of these, 51 551 have registered to grow flue-cured tobacco; 659 for burley; 85 for Oriental; and 110 have opted for dark fire.

Mashonaland West has the highest number of farmers with 16 385, followed by Mashonaland Central (15 251), Manicaland (10 406), Mashonaland East (9 855), Masvingo (57) and Midlands has nine. Last season, 17 000 farmers had registered to grow tobacco by November.

There were concerns by some farmers that basic equipment like float trays would be difficult to access if they are only available from the Tobacco Research Board in Harare.

Fertiliser companies have indicated they are capable of bringing the commodity nearer to farmers for easy access.

Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board Chief Executive Officer Andrew Matibiri says they are thrilled with the deliveries to date.

“Deliveries are still continuing and we now believe we may sell 114 million kilograms this year,” Matibiri said.

Since Zimbabwe;s chaotic land reform in 2000 tobacco output has plummeted as whites, who had the best know-how where kicked off their land.

In that year, the country exported 236 million kilograms of tobacco and was the world’s second-largest exporter after Brazil.

But according to Universal Corp, the world’s largest tobacco leaf merchant’s a website Zimbabwe is now rank behind Brazil, India, the U.S , Argentina and Tanzania.