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TOBACCO PRODUCTION 

 and MARKETING in 



By Albert B.i Davis 



SpUTHERN PODESIA, 

 NORTHERN BHODESIA, 

 and NYAS ALAND yC 



INTRODUCTION 



The former Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland has in recent years ranked next to 

 the United States in exports of flue-cured tobacco to world markets. In 1962, U.S. exports 

 totaled 375.4 million pounds, those from the Federation, 189.8 million. 



The Federation, which was established in 1953, embracing Northern and Southern 

 Rhodesias and Nyasaland, has been for some years an increasingly important factor in 

 world tobacco production and exports. In 1962, total Federation shipments of unmanu- 

 factured tobacco were approximately 2l6 million pounds, up nearly 100 million from the 

 1950-54 average level of around 117 million. In 1962, the Federation's exports repre- 

 sented 24 percent of total world flue-cured exports, compared with only l6 percent in 

 1950-54. In addition, the Federation's exports represented a large share of all Africa's, 

 with the latter totaling only 251 million pounds in 1962. 



To the three entities of the former Federation, situated in southeast Africa, with a 

 population of around 9^ million (of whom over 9 million are native Africans) tobacco is a 

 crop of vital importance. As a source of foreign exchange, tobacco exports rank second, 

 following those of copper, and surpass all other agricultural exports combined. In addi- 

 tion, an estimated 230,000 persons are engaged in tobacco production. 



By far the most important of the three areas in tobacco production is Southern 

 Rhodesia, for which preliminary 1961-62 figures indicate output of almost 245 million 

 pounds. (This compares with a Federation total of around 277 million pounds.) Southern 

 Rhodesian production is now about 53 percent of the total for the entire African continent, 

 as well, compared with an average of 31 percent for 1948-49 to 1952-53. Total production 

 for Africa has risen only about one -half during this period, while Southern Rhodesia's 

 has increased about Z\ times. 



First really large increases in the production of flue -cured tobacco in the Rhodesias 

 became apparent after World War II with initiation of the first purchase arrangement 

 with United Kingdom mcinufacturers, through the British Board of Trade. This first 

 agreement, in 1948, provided for United Kingdom manufacturers to purchase approxi- 

 mately 46 million pounds. Following World War II, United Kingdom limited the percent- 

 age of imports which could be imported from non-Commonwealth areas. Arrangements 

 in 1962 provided for the purchase of about 100 million pounds of flue-cured tobacco. In 

 July 1962, the Tobacco Advisory Committee in the United Kingdom gave estimates of 

 needs for Rhode siain tobacco for the next 3years (1963 through 1965 crops) at 100 million 

 to 105 nnillion poionds (auction sales weight). "The Commonwealth Duty Preference" 

 equivalent to 21.6 cents per poiind, which is granted to Commonwealth producers by the 

 United Kingdom, has been cinother importeint factor in tobacco expansion in Rhodesia. 



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