Zimbabwe: 107 Million KG Tobacco Sold to Date

Source from:  The Herald  05/10/2013

FLUE-CURED tobacco deliveries have for the fourth successive season surpassed the 100 million kilogramme mark hitting 107 million kg on the 55th day of the marketing season.

The auctioned tobacco fetched US$400 million and was sold at an average price of US$3, 71 per kg.

This marks a 29 percent change from last season. Last year 84 million kg worth US$315 million had been sold during the same period.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers' Union vice president Mr Johnson Mapira said tobacco production is expected to continue growing because of the favourable prices.

"So far tobacco is the only crop where farmers are guaranteed of good prices and instant cash unlike in cotton and maize where farmers are complaining.

"Maize farmers have to wait for months before they can get their money after delivering their crop to the Grain Marketing Board," he said.

Mr Mapira said tobacco farmers do not have problems paying their workers because of the good payment method in tobacco.

He said farmers were now using proceeds from tobacco to support other projects.

"We hope the country will invest in value addition of the crop so that we get high returns. By processing the tobacco, the country will create employment opportunities for most of our university graduates," he said.

Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Mashonaland East chairperson Mrs Barbra Chitambira said tobacco was empowering most women in the country.

She said a number of women were now earning a living through tobacco production.

Mrs Chitambira said the only challenge women were facing was inputs.

"The orderly marketing of tobacco is encouraging. As a woman I do not have problems getting my money after selling the crop but I have managed to pay school fees and support the family through proceeds from tobacco," she said.

Mrs Chitambira said the only challenge women were facing was inputs.

"If only women could get adequate inputs, there will be assured of huge profits and the nation is empowered," he said.

Tobacco production has been on the increase with 170 million kg of the crop expected to go under the hammer this season.

TIMB has already indicated that it is confident the target of 170 million kg will be surpassed. Enditem