ZIMBABWE: Private Players in Tobacco Industry Urged to Harness More Resources

Source from:  Newsnet (zw) 09/02/2004

Agro-economists say private players in the tobacco industry should harness more resources for the forthcoming cropping season for the country to achieve its target of one hundred and sixty five million kilogrammes. They say input providers should have access to the productive sector facility to ensure that farmers purchase the inputs at affordable prices. [img border=0 hspace="4" vspace="4" align="left" src=http://www.tobaccochina.com/english/picture/8521094021690.jpg] The chairman of the agro-business dealers association, Cde Walter Mzembi said the 200 billion dollars set aside by the reserve bank of Zimbabwe for tobacco is not adequate as the amount is about 20 percent of direct production costs. Cde Mzembi emphasised that it is necessary for private players and other stakeholders to assist farmers with financial resources. He added that the importance of mechanisation cannot be over emphasised at a time when new farmers are also growing the crop. He, however, said farmers should be innovative and use available implements as mechanisation cannot be achieved over night. Agro-economist, Mr Jonathan Kadzura said farmers allocated land should use it to achieve maximum productivity adding that there is need for farmers to get the necessary training for the country to attain maximum productivity. Tobacco is the country's major foreign currency earner. Enditem