More so than any other year, the phrase “climate change” is becoming a consistent theme in the cigar industry. Heavy rains late last year in Nicaragua delayed the initial planting while the Dominican Republic has experienced a drier season. In Cuba, it seems to be worse. El Niño produced a sever drought in Cuba last year and has pummeled the country with rain over the last couple months, including rainfall exceeding 113 percent of the historical average in January. Farmers told Reuters that some have been forced to replant and described the situation as a “disaster.” Typically, this time of the year is relatively dry, which is helpful for the tobacco plants as it means the leaves can avoid damage from wind and stains from excessive water. Continuing rain, which is expected, will continue to make the situation worse. It won’t be until spring, once the harvest is completed, before the damage can truly be assessed. A few months after that Cuba will likely announce the results. Cuba’s last few crops have been problematic to say the least. The 2015 crop was hailed as “the beginning of the tobacco recovery,” an acknowledgement of issues like draught and rain that have plagued the island ...
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