Zambia: TBZ Starts Buying Tobacco From East Farmers

Source from:  Times of Zambia 08/17/2011

Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ) has advised independent and sponsored growers of burley tobacco in Eastern Province who still have excess produce to start selling the commodity at the Chipata and Lundazi tobacco sales floors. TBZ chief executive officer Aven Muvwende said in a statement in Chipata yesterday that starting from yesterday, the board would be buying tobacco grown in Zambia and only from registered independent farmers including sponsored farmers who had excess produce. He said this was through powers vested in the board, power number 16 of the Tobacco Act CAP 237 of the Laws of Zambia. "I wish to inform all independent growers of burley tobacco and sponsored tobacco growers who still have excess tobacco in Eastern Province that the Tobacco Board of Zambia, through powers vested in the board, power number 16 of the Tobacco Act CAP 237 of the Laws of Zambia, has started buying burley tobacco grown in Zambia at Chipata and Lundazi sales floor," Mr Muvwende said. He said for the burley tobacco in Chadiza, Kapara, Kazimule, Mgubudu, Zemba and Zozwe areas farmers were advised to organise transport for their tobacco to be delivered to the Chipata sales floor. He said although the tobacco would be bought in United States dollars, the farmers would be paid in Kwacha based on the exchange rate at the bank on the day of sale. Enditem