Tobacco Farmers Require 200 000t of Coal

Source from:  herald.co.zw Business Reporter 08/08/2007

TOBACCO farmers require at least 200 000 tonnes of coal for the 2007/08 season to enhance production capacity as the country seeks to boost its foreign currency coffers. In an interview with the Herald Business last week, TIMB acting chief executive officer Dr Andrew Matibiri said: "The tobacco industry requires at least 200 000 tonnes of coal for the coming season. This will ensure viability in the industry and meet the ever increasing demand since most farmers are now engaging in tobacco farming, a move that will earn the country the much-needed foreign currency." Tobacco is the country's major foreign currency earner and is a major consumer of coal, which is used in curing. Dr Matibiri urged communal and A1 farmers to start preparations for the 2007/08 tobacco farming season. TIMB is working tirelessly to ensure that inputs like fertilizer and coal are available in time. He urged farmers not to panic as logistics are in place to procure adequate inputs. "Communal farmers and A1 farmers are expected to grow about 15 000 hectares of tobacco in the 2007/08 season. We are set to acquire at least 7 500 tonnes of Compound C for tobacco in the coming few weeks," added Mr Matibiri. Compound C, the basal fertilizer for tobacco, had a huge bearing on yields and can be the biggest limiting factor in achieving targets if it is not made available on time, he said. Meanwhile, a coal-revolving scheme is in place for farmers to enhance production amid calls that established tobacco farmers should support the land reform programme to ensure that black empowerment is achieved at all costs. He noted that farmers are given inputs such as seed and on credit in addition to subsidised fuel by the Government, and were thus duty bound to make the most of such resources. He castigated farmers who received inputs at affordable prices but diverted them to the parallel market to make a quick buck at the expense of the fiscus. Enditem