By ETimes
HARARE – TOBACCO farmers in Zimbabwe have sold over 299,2 million kilograms of flue-cured tobacco, surpassing the previous 2023 high of 296 million kg and generating over US$1 billion in revenue, in a season that has toppled national records.
With the closure of the tobacco floors set for August 7, expectations are high that sales could reach 300 million kg.At the heart of this success lies the valuable partnership that farmers have struck with MukuruPay, a digital payment solution fast becoming a lifeline for Zimbabwe’s small-scale tobacco farmers.
Ernest Malunga, a tobacco farmer from Chinhoyi, recounted the challenges he faced in the past.
After selling his crops at auction floors in Harare, he often waited in long queues at banks only to be told that no cash was available.
“Before Mukuru, life was difficult for tobacco farmers. Now, it’s easy. We don’t struggle to get our money, and we receive it on time. No queues,” Malunga said.
Beatrice David, a Darwendale-based farmer, said she now receives her earnings instantly through secure, accessible payouts—right at the auction floors or in her rural community.
“Mukuru has made things easier for us. Before, I had to go to town to collect my money from the bank, only to find long queues or no cash at all,” she said.
Enterprise Sales Manager at Mukuru, Kevin Nyakotyo, highlighted that MukuruPay’s role goes far beyond transactions.
“Our platform ensures farmers receive their earnings safely and efficiently, especially in rural areas where banking services are limited. Given the safety concerns around carrying large sums of cash, many farmers now prefer collecting their payments via Mukuru,” Nyakotyo said.
“They can easily manage their funds with the Mukuru Wallet and take advantage of additional services such as paying electricity bills, purchasing airtime, and subscribing to DStv.”
Nyakotyo attributed the farming community’s trust in Mukuru to the financial services company’s 20-year-old brand journey with the diaspora.
“Most tobacco farmers already knew Mukuru from remittances sent by relatives in South Africa, the UK and other parts of the world. So it was a natural shift for them to embrace MukuruPay as a trusted financial partner,” he said.
He stressed that Mukuru’s hybrid model, combining both digital and physical presence, has also boosted uptake.
“We are not limited to urban areas or high-end devices. Even if a base station is offline, farmers can still access their money. That kind of accessibility is vital in rural Zimbabwe,” he added.
This season’s record output was driven by increased rainfall, wider cultivation and the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan.Importantly, smallholder farmers made up 85 percent of the output, with registered growers rising by 11 percent to 127,311.
“MukuruPay is part of the financial inclusion story. With this momentum, I believe we will break past the 300 million kg mark very soon,” stated Nyakotyo.
He further emphasised that as Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry evolves, MukuruPay will continue to play a pivotal role and ensure that the financial backbone of the sector is strong, secure, and inclusive.
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