Nigeria, Sept. 1 -- A new analysis by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that tobacco-leaf production in Africa increased by almost nine per cent between 2012 and 2024, despite a nearly 19 per cent decline in global production.

The increase, according to the findings, is raising concerns about the health risks faced by tobacco farmers and workers, as well as the wider environmental and social consequences of tobacco cultivation.

Africa produced more than 639,000 tonnes of tobacco leaf in 2024, representing about 11 per cent of global tobacco-leaf production, the analysis noted.

The findings showed that tobacco production is highly concentrated in five countries: Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda.

East Afr...