Farmers Prepare for Tobacco Season

Source from:  herald.co.zw Business Reporters 07/18/2008

THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has so far sold 260 kilograms of tobacco seed in preparation for the forthcoming tobacco farming season. This is enough to cover 40 000 hectares of land. In an interview with the Herald Business yesterday, TIMB acting chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said the seed had been sold by July 4. "More farmers are still coming in to buy seed, an indication that this year's target of a 65 000 hectarage of land up from last season's 61 000 hectares is achievable, if we receive inputs in time," added Dr Matibiri. Dr Matibiri is, however, concerned about the shortages of inputs such as fertilizers and chemicals for tobacco farming. "Up to now, the board has not secured enough fertilizer and chemicals for the 2008/2009 tobacco-farming season due to some constraints but is hopeful to get supplies in the near future." He added the board was looking up to promises made by the Ministry of Agriculture to make available farming inputs on time. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe recently made available US$10 million to some fertilizer companies, but nothing has so far materialised. Enditem