Tanzania: Adulteration of Tobacco Irks Councillors

Source from:  Tanzania Daily News 11/13/2014

Councillors in Tabora District have expressed concern over adulteration of tobacco leaves by some farmers and vowed to enact a by-law to curb the malpractice.

The councillors gave their concerns during a field tour at the Morogoro-based Tanzania Tobacco Processors Limited (TTPL) on Tuesday.

The delegation included 26 councillors and 10 officials from the Uyui-designate district council in Tabora Region.

"The tour at the factory has been so enlightening with regard to how the factory operates with state-of-the-art technology. The main challenge facing tobacco primary processors is deliberate tampering by adding impurities to the crop by some farmers.

"The council will work towards drafting a by-law to check such tendencies and culprits will be taken to task," the Council's Chairman, Mr Saidi Ntahondi, said.

Officials at the factory had showed the councillors some of the impurities added to the tobacco leaves including stones, plastic bags and bottles.

The Tabora District Council's District Executive Director (DED), Mr Anselim Teendwa, was also irked by the malpractice, noting that it would tarnish the image of Tanzania in the global market.

He said about 95 per cent of the crop was being exported, calling more education to farmers.

"We must protect our products from such bad practices. I also urge processors to give feedback to farmers through their cooperative societies once they come across adulterated tobacco leaves," Mr Teendwa stressed.

TTPL's Processing Manager, Mr Jimmy Mollel, requested the councillors to sensitise farmers on the importance of producing high quality tobacco leaves.

"Since you have visited the plant and observed challenges it is facing such as adulteration of the leaves we believe you will be good ambassadors to educate the farmers," Mr Mollel said. Enditem