Full text can be accessed at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0360544295000909The energy efficiency of tobacco-curing practice in Tanzania is investigated. A one-quarter size laboratory model of a traditional, fuelwood-fired, rural barn is used. The energy consumed in the tobacco-curing process is monitored together with emissions of CO and CO2. An average of 14 kg of fuelwood is consumed to obtain 1 kg of cured tobacco. The emission of CO is 0.6% of total volume. It is estimated that 0.6 hectare of woodland have to be cleared to cure 1 hectare of tobacco, leading to a deforestation rate of 13,000 hectares per annum. Alternative sources of energy to fuelwood should be developed.