2005 Tobacco Selling Season Kicksoff

Source from:  newsnet.co.zw 04/06/2005

All is now set for the 2005 tobacco selling season with both tobacco growers and buyers confident of fetching attractive rates at local and international markets as the auction floors open their doors. Farmers attending a meeting to mark the 2005 tobacco selling season in Harare say they expect local buyers to offer them between 2,5 and US$3 per kilogram for their high quality product. As the tobacco auction floors open their doors, expectations are high that more than 100 million kilograms of flue cured tobacco will go under the hammer this selling season. Farmers have called on merchants to provide more attractive auction rates as compared to last year. Some farmers note that tobacco is labour intensive saying buyers should consider the high cost of production to offer reasonable rates that can sustain farmers to payback their loans as well as making profit out of their produce. Addressing stakeholders in the agricultural sector in Harare , Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Dr Joseph Made appealed to the buyers to provide reasonable rates that will benefit and promote tobacco growers. A total of 19 A' class and B' class buyers have since been licensed to buy the golden leaf this season. Enditem