Mutati Warns Tobacco Farmers Over Exports

Source from:  Times of Zambia 11/03/2009

THE Government has warned farmers, merchants and firms exporting raw tobacco of stringent action if they do not regulate themselves. Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said the Government would take action on any company exporting unprocessed tobacco if they do not begin to regulate themselves. "So we call on you for self-regulation to ensure that you do not export unprocessed tobacco. Let us not export to Malawi and Zimbabwe unprocessed tobacco. Let us do the processing in Zambia," he said. His Ministry would be discussing with the ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives on the measures the Government would take on those exporting unprocessed tobacco. Speaking during the commissioning of a US$6 million Tombwe Processing plant in Lusaka, Mr Mutati said tobacco was one of the biggest export earners in Zambia and was able to realise approximately $63 million annually. Tobacco was also responsible for supporting more than 18,000 farmers and countless people working on these farms, therefore was one of the major industries in the nation. Mr Mutati said the Government would ensure that Zambian tobacco had an identity by not exporting unprocessed tobacco. "We were told that we did not have enough processing capacity, we were not competitive and that we had quality problems but all these problems have been addressed," he said. The Government had given the merchants, farmers one more chance to utilise the local processing plant to add value before exporting. "We want you to process this tobacco here at Tombwe and we will give you a chance and as Government, we shall do everything possible to ensure that this plant stays," he said. Enditem