Zimbabwe farmers upbeat about new tobacco season

HARARE — As a new marketing season dawned, Tendai Chimhondoro waited patiently for her golden leaf crop to go under the hammer in Zimbabwe's capital Harare.

The small-scale farmer from Shamva, Mashonaland Central Province, has been selling tobacco on the auction floors since she started growing the cash crop three years ago.

"I am expecting the leaf to fetch a higher price at the auction because the quality of my leaf this year is high compared to last year's," said Chimhondoro, 45.