Zimbabwe: Tobacco Farmers Must Deliver

Source from:  The Herald (Harare) April 26, 2007 04/28/2007

THE assurance on Tuesday by the Government to farmers that they would get realistic returns on their produce in Zimbabwean dollar terms and also retain 20 percent of their foreign currency earnings has brought to an end an almost month-long impasse on the opening of the Tobacco Auction Floors. The 20 percent earnings is an increase from last season's 15 percent. This dismisses reports that the facility had been scrapped. The new support price, yet to be announced, and the bonus proves once again that going to the negotiating table is the best route for any aggrieved parties to take. We know that there has been some behind-the-scene discussions to break the impasse over a viable exchange rate or producer price. The Government makes decisions, right or wrong, and it is up to the affected parties to convince it otherwise. Emotional confrontations with the Government rarely bring the desired results. Farmers should be happy that this misunderstanding has now been cleared. As the tobacco farmers now wait for the new support price, which Government says will be announced soon, they should now deliver more of the golden leaf to the auction floors. The other good news is that the farmers will be paid their outstanding bonuses of $5 000 per kg, which they were entitled to last season. Tobacco is one of the country's single largest foreign currency earners, contributing about 17 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. With most of Zimbabwe's exporting sector facing all kinds of problems because of the depressed prices and inflation, tobacco, though shaken at times due to a number of unforeseen factors, still remains our hope for future prosperity. We are aware that tobacco farmers have never stopped moaning about their bonuses and support price, which has sometimes affected their farming operations. Tobacco farmers are also, however, believed to complain at the slightest hint of a problem. It was also expected that they would not rest until they got some assurance from the Government on their demand. The onus is now on them to deliver and after that start preparations for the next season. There is more room in the tobacco industry for both big and small-holder farmers, and Zimbabwe's tobacco future would be more assured if both contributed strongly to its production. Tobacco production is expected to rise from last year's 55 million kg to between 70 and 80 million kg this year, which is a good sign for the future. Having learnt to grow tobacco, one of the most difficult crops, the small-holders can now start expanding as they build on their confidence. Enditem