Start Selling Season Delayed

Source from:  tobaccoreporter.com Zimbabwe, Tuesday, March 13, 2007 03/15/2007

Zimbabwe's flue-cured tobacco selling season, initially scheduled to start March 14, has been postponed indefinitely because farmers are not ready to sell, reports The Herald. Zimbabwe's tobacco growers argue that the current exchange rate of Z$250 per U.S. dollar makes their business unviable, saying that Z$500 per U.S. dollar would be a more realistic rate. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, however, maintains that devaluation is out of the question. What's more, the bulk of the crop is not ready for sale because growers planted late, largely due to input shortages. Dr Andrew Matibiri, technical director of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, said the auction floors would remain closed until further notice. Local sources expect Zimbabwean growers to sell about 80 million kg of tobacco in 2007. Enditem