Zambia: East Tobacco Farmers Want Processing Plant

Source from:  The Times of Zambia 04/03/2009

EASTERN Province Minister Isaac Banda has urged tobacco-buying companies to set up a processing factory in the region to create more jobs. The minister said the move would also help to cut costs on exports of raw materials to other countries for processing. Mr Banda said in an interview yesterday that setting up a tobacco processing plant in the province would increase the revenue base for the Government. "Let these buying companies set up a processing factory in Chipata to create more jobs for the locals and contribute revenue to the Government. In doing so, they will also be cutting their operational and transport costs," he said. He said Zambia was losing a lot by exporting raw materials to some neighbouring countries and later buying them as finished products. Mr Banda lamented that it was "disgraceful" that despite the province being one of the leading producers of tobacco in the region, it still had no processing plant. He also cautioned farmers in the province against being overexcited about the opening of a tobacco floor market. He urged them to take their time and sell their produce to genuine tobacco buyers so that they could have a better return. Enditem