Zimbabwe: Tobacco Farmers Buy Property

Source from:  The Herald 05/31/2009

Harare - TOBACCO growers have this year managed to procure household property and farming implements due to the new payment system that is enabling them to retain 100 percent foreign currency from their earnings. The growers are buying scotch carts, wheelbarrows, blankets, generators and bulk groceries, something they failed to do in the past four seasons due to bureaucratic payment systems. Last season, some growers said they realised huge losses because they could not access their money from the banks after getting only 25 percent of their sales in foreign currency. The growers said the money could only take them back to their farms. Tobacco Industry Marketing Board Chief Executive, Dr Andrew Matibiri said there was a great difference in the shopping behaviour of farmers this season from other seasons especially the past two seasons. "This season a n umber of farmers have re-capitalised and are buying not only basic commodities but hardware such as carts, wheelbarrows and ploughs," said Dr Matibiri. Tobacco growers were also advised to buy genuine goods that have guarantee. Zimbabwe National Farmers Union President, Mrs Monica Chinamasa advised farmers on the opening of the tobacco selling season to be careful when buying. Farmers were told to compare the quality of the goods on sale against the prices before buying. Mrs Dorothy Tsvere of Mvurwi said although this year she was paid the second day after selling her crop, the money was worthy the sweat as she managed to buy a lot of things she had been wishing for. "We tobacco growers get our money once a year and this will be the only chance to improve our livelihood. "The prices on the market are favourable and are not skyrocketing as the case last year where I failed even to buy a pair of tennis shoes," she said. Another farmer said this season was a consolation to what happened last season. Some companies have stands at the floors where they are selling goods while there is a flea market at the Zimbabwe Industry Tobacco Auction Centre. He said if the situation continued to be like this in the next two seasons to buy a tractor. The growers however complained that transport operators ferrying their crop to the auction floors were charging them exorbitant fees. To transport a bale of tobacco from Macheke to Harare, some operators are charging fares ranging for US$7 to US$10. Enditem