Zimbabwe: Government Seeks $25 Trillion for Tobacco Season

Source from:  The Herald (Harare) June 15, 2006 06/16/2006

THE Government has put in place a committee to source at least $25 trillion for tobacco production during the 2006/7 season, an industry official has said. Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board general manager Mr Stanley Mutepfa said this week that the decision was taken following farmers' request for support in tobacco production. "The Government is seeking funds for tobacco production during the 2006/7 season," said Mr Mutepfa. "The farmers require inputs to produce the crop next season." Under the proposed project farmers are seeking the funds to farm between 100 000 and 160 000 hectares to produce 160 million kg of tobacco. Since the tobacco-selling season began in April, the crop has earned the country more than US$21 million from the more than 11 million kg that have gone under the hammer. Of the total tobacco sold during the same period, 4 149 030 kg were produced under contract farming and fetched US$7 615 337. Farmers received $759 978 704 521 paid under a 35 percent early delivery bonus scheme. Enditem