In order to increase the availability of cash within the economy, Zimbabwe’s tobacco selling season officially began today and authorities are expecting 205m kg of tobacco to go under the hammer this year.

According to Ceoafrica, the country’s reserve bank governor says the sales are expected to ease the money shortage that has plagued the country for over a year.

Tobacco is one of the country’s biggest exports and foreign currency earners and production is expected to grow this season, following good rains and a surge in new farmers registering to grow the crop.

Anxious growers gathered with their produce outside the three main auction floors today for the official opening. 

Zimbabwe exports its tobacco to China, the Middle East and Europe; merchants from these regions have set aside $700m (£575m) to purchase this year’s crop.

Last year tobacco brought $900m into country.