The Tobacco Commission has launched the Know Your Grower (KYG) project as part of its efforts to enhance traceability and compliance monitoring.
The KYG concept paper notes that the project will improve the country’s tobacco grower database to support the tracking of tobacco from the farm and will facilitate the monitoring of compliance with international standards. Some buyers have been unable to purchase auction tobacco because growers could not be easily traced.
According to the concept paper, the Commission will collect growers’ information during the grower licensing exercise which begins on 27th July 2026. During the licensing period, all club members and estate owners are required to appear in person at the Tobacco Commission to register for the KYG project before they can be licensed for the 2026/2027 growing season.
The Commission will implement the KYG project in two phases. Phase one will require growers to provide to the Commission key information including their personal details, farm location, land size, household information and tobacco production details.
Phase two, to be rolled out later in the year, will involve Commission-appointed personnel visiting growers’ homes and farms to capture their locations and fields using geo-tagging technology.
Participation in the KYG exercise will render growers eligible to sell their tobacco during the 2026/2027 marketing season.
Stakeholders including tobacco merchants, grower associations research institution ARET have all rendered their strong backing to the KYG project.
The Commission held project consultation engagements in from June to July.
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