Zimbabwe: Tobacco Mop-Up Sale

Source from:  The Herald 08/07/2013

TOBACCO auction floors received low volumes of flue-cured tobacco ahead of the mop-up sales which start today. A survey by The Herald yesterday showed that a few tobacco bales were trickling in at the floors, an indication that many farmers could have sold their crop by the time the auction floors closed in July. By 11am, yesterday, Boka Tobacco Auction Floors had received the highest number of bales which were over 400.

An official with BTF said the company expected more deliveries as the day progressed. "Usually farmers bring their crop during the evening and we expect the volumes to pick," he said.

At the Tobacco Sales Floor, more than 100 bales had been received since the closing of the auction floors last month.

Premier Tobacco Floors managing director Mr Philemon Mangena said last year during the same period the auction floors had received more than 500 bales but this season only 10 had been received by yesterday morning.

"This shows that most farmers had sold their crop by the closing of the auction floors. There isn't much tobacco at the farming areas," he said.

Some farmers said they had sold the bulk of their crop during the early days while others said they deliberately held their crop for the mop-up sales.

Mvuma farmer Mr Thomas Mambo said he was selling his last bales to raise money for inputs for the next season. Enditem