Zimbabwe: Tobacco Sales Floor Decentralises Bookings

Source from:  The Herald 03/21/2011

The Tobacco Sales Floor has established offices in different parts of Zimbabwe for pre-sale bookings of the crop that will be sold. This follows an increase in incidences of farmers delivering a crop that has not been booked for sale. Despite this decentralisation, some farmers have continued bringing their crop to the auction floor without advance bookings. TSF managing director, Mr James Mutambanesango, said his company had opened booking offices in Rusape, Marondera, Bindura, Mvurwi, Karoi and Chinhoyi. "We have also increased booking areas at TSF to three to ensure farmers do not experience challenges selling their crop." Mr Mutambanesango said they could not turn away farmers who brought their crop without booking. Booked farmers who fail to sell their tobacco on the delivery day are offered shelter, food and water. However, some farmers say they are not aware of booking offices in their areas while others say they cannot book over the phone because of the poor mobile network. Pressure is mounting at TSF as tobacco deliveries increase daily. The Boka Auction Floors are still to open and this means all farmers who want to sell have to go to TSF. Mr Mutambanesango said TSF was now conducting four sales a day and his staff are working round the clock. "We are conducting four sales per day with a minimum of 2 000 bales per sale. "We hope to increase the number of bales laid to 3 000 for every sale. "The good thing is that farmers are getting their money on the day of sale," he said. Enditem