Sales of Zimbabwe’s tobacco dropped 23.52% to 178.7 million kilograms this year as production was affected by lower rainfall, official data showed.

Farmers delivered 178.7 million kilogram at the close of auctions compared to 233.6 million kg during the same period last year, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board said.

Notably, tobacco is the one of the largest foreign currency earners for the African nation. However, a devastating drought and poor rains this year have hit the farming sector badly.

Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri passed away at the age of 65, just days after his driver, who succumbed to COVID-19.

“I am deeply saddened to inform the nation of the death of the Minister of Agriculture Retired Air Marshall Perrance Shiri, a long time friend and colleague,” President Mnangagwa said.

Shiri commanded the air force for nearly 25 years until he joined the government in 2017. According to local media, he was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. He died in the early hours of Wednesday.