Promising Season but Growers Still Exploited

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 05/10/2010

Zimbabwe's current tobacco sales season has been described as "promising" by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) CEO, Dr. Andrew Matibiri. According to a story in The Herald, growers have been flocking to the auction floors where average sales are up on those of the previous season. Part of the price increase is probably down to presentation. "There is great improvement in the delivery and presentation of the crop, and this year's crop wastage has come down as compared to the same time last year," said Matibiri. "Even the number of rejected bales is lower than that of last year, thus showing that the presentation of the crop is much better." With the sales season still in its infancy, crop wastage this year stands at eight per cent compared to nine per cent last year, and the average price, at US$3.10 per kg, is up by about nine per cent on that of 2009. Some farmers were nevertheless crying foul over what they said were unfair prices due to re-classification of their leaf. One grower who sold eight bales of tobacco, receiving US$3.80 for the highest grade and US$2.10 for the lowest, complained that his leaf had gone for "a song". And he accused the TIMB of not doing enough to promote farmers' interests. "They should take our needs into consideration as they are leaving us at the mercy of unscrupulous middlemen," said Tendai Maronga, of Guruve. "It's worrying when a farmer with more than five bales of tobacco fails to reach the US$1,000 mark," he added. Enditem