A farm worker carries a bundle of tobacco leaves for curing in a climate-smart barn at a farm outside Bulawayo on March 12, 2026. A climate-smart tobacco barn is an energy-efficient, sustainable curing facility designed to reduce fuel consumption (wood or coal), lower carbon emissions, and minimise deforestation in tobacco farming. Zimbabwe's tobacco crop -- Africa's largest -- has rebounded to record levels, driven by smallholders contracted to mainly Chinese firms and despite concerns about debt, dependence and deforestation. From 306 million kilogrammes in 2024, production soared to 355 million kg in 2025, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. A harvest over 360 million kg is expected this year after a 15 percent increase in the planted area. (Photo by Zinyange Auntony / AFP via Getty Images)

A farmer makes notes during a tobacco field-day training at a farm outside Bulawayo on March 12, 2026. Zimbabwe's tobacco crop -- Africa's largest -- has rebounded to record levels, driven by smallholders contracted to mainly Chinese firms and despite concerns about debt, dependence and deforestation. From 306 million kilogrammes in 2024, production soared to 355 million kg in 2025, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. A harvest over 360 million kg is expected this year after a 15 percent increase in the planted area. (Photo by Zinyange Auntony / AFP via Getty Images)

Prestance Siqhoza, registers in a biometric system at a farm outside Bulawayo on March 12, 2026. Zimbabwe's tobacco crop -- Africa's largest -- has rebounded to record levels, driven by smallholders contracted to mainly Chinese firms and despite concerns about debt, dependence and deforestation. From 306 million kilogrammes in 2024, production soared to 355 million kg in 2025, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. A harvest over 360 million kg is expected this year after a 15 percent increase in the planted area. (Photo by Zinyange Auntony / AFP via Getty Images)

Read Sola works in his field during a tobacco field-day training at a farm outside Bulawayo on March 12, 2026. Zimbabwe's tobacco crop -- Africa's largest -- has rebounded to record levels, driven by smallholders contracted to mainly Chinese firms and despite concerns about debt, dependence and deforestation. From 306 million kilogrammes in 2024, production soared to 355 million kg in 2025, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. A harvest over 360 million kg is expected this year after a 15 percent increase in the planted area. (Photo by Zinyange Auntony / AFP via Getty Images)

Read Sola sits for an interview at a farm outside Bulawayo on March 12, 2026. Zimbabwe's tobacco crop -- Africa's largest -- has rebounded to record levels, driven by smallholders contracted to mainly Chinese firms and despite concerns about debt, dependence and deforestation. From 306 million kilogrammes in 2024, production soared to 355 million kg in 2025, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. A harvest over 360 million kg is expected this year after a 15 percent increase in the planted area. (Photo by Zinyange Auntony / AFP via Getty Images)

An attendee walks past a climate-smart barn during a tobacco field day training at a farm outside Bulawayo on March 12, 2026. A climate-smart tobacco barn is an energy-efficient, sustainable curing facility designed to reduce fuel consumption (wood or coal), lower carbon emissions, and minimise deforestation in tobacco farming. Zimbabwe's tobacco crop -- Africa's largest -- has rebounded to record levels, driven by smallholders contracted to mainly Chinese firms and despite concerns about debt, dependence and deforestation. From 306 million kilogrammes in 2024, production soared to 355 million kg in 2025, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. A harvest over 360 million kg is expected this year after a 15 percent increase in the planted area. (Photo by Zinyange Auntony / AFP via Getty Images)

Read Sola looks at his harvested tobacco inside a climate-smart barn at a farm outside Bulawayo on March 12, 2026. A climate-smart tobacco barn is an energy-efficient, sustainable curing facility designed to reduce fuel consumption (wood or coal), lower carbon emissions, and minimise deforestation in tobacco farming. Zimbabwe's tobacco crop -- Africa's largest -- has rebounded to record levels, driven by smallholders contracted to mainly Chinese firms and despite concerns about debt, dependence and deforestation. From 306 million kilogrammes in 2024, production soared to 355 million kg in 2025, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. A harvest over 360 million kg is expected this year after a 15 percent increase in the planted area. (Photo by Zinyange Auntony / AFP via Getty Images)

Farmers work in the field during a tobacco field-day training at a farm outside Bulawayo on March 12, 2026. Zimbabwe's tobacco crop -- Africa's largest -- has rebounded to record levels, driven by smallholders contracted to mainly Chinese firms and despite concerns about debt, dependence and deforestation. From 306 million kilogrammes in 2024, production soared to 355 million kg in 2025, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board. A harvest over 360 million kg is expected this year after a 15 percent increase in the planted area. (Photo by Zinyange Auntony / AFP via Getty Images)