tobacco (a half billion pounds in 2000) Zimbabwe's
tobacco farming is once again the country's top crop.
Pres. Robert Mugabe drove out white farm owners and
their workers in a bloody redistribution of property in
2000, an act that resulted in Zimbabwe's economic
crash and record setting inflation. Only now are
segments of the economy recovering, mainly tobacco,
while the country's past agricultural mainstays like
roses, corn & horticulture remain almost non-existent.
No longer farmed in large operations, Mugabe made
sure that money and incentives from tobacco attracted
the public's alliance by encouraging tobacco growing
on as many small farms as possible. There are now
more than 110,000 tobacco farms. Additionally, as
Godfrey Marawanyika reports for Bloomberg,
Zimbabwe has had to import many staples they used
to export, like corn.
During my stay in Zimbabawe in 1998, Kingsland
Cigarettes, the local brand, were 95 cents US. I would
be interested to find out what they cost now...
Bloomberg News: Mugabe makes Zimbabwe's tobacco farmers land grab winners
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