Zimbabwe: Premier Opens Shop for Farmers

Source from:  allAfrica.com 06/19/2012

PREMIER Tobacco Auction Auction Floor, a newcomer in the tobacco industry, has diversified its business portfolio to include a convenience shop. The convenient shop, which started operating recently, boasts a variety of stock ranging from fertilisers, farming implements such as hand-held ploughs, wheelbarrows, asbestos, water pumps, scotchcarts, knapsacks, tobacco bailing equipment, furniture items, electrical goods and grocery items. Premier Tobacco managing director Mr Philemon Mangena said the shop was part of their plan to offer a one-stop shop facility for the convenience of their clients- tobacco farmers. "We want to provide for all the needs of our clients to minimise any inconveniences that they may experience if they are to venture into the city to buy various things after selling their tobacco. "We have had instances of farmers being robbed in the past and by providing everything they need under one roof we are trying to protect them from these unscrupulous elements," he said. Farmers who were interviewed were elated at the development saying the shop would save them money and the inconvenience of having to move around with lots of money. "This is a good development that will save us time and money because we have almost everything we need under one roof," said Mrs Agnes Chetsuro of Headlands. "The shop also offers competitive prices vis-a-vis those being offered in shops in town, so we have no need to travel out of these premises." Other farmers concurred with her and also expressed satisfaction at the prices they offered at Premier for their tobacco. As of Friday last week, Premier had the second highest seasonal average price after Tobacco Sales Floor. Premier's seasonal average price was US$3,64 per kilogramme while TSF's average price was US$3,66 per kg. To date Premier has handled 8,7 million kg worth US$31,9 million.Enditem