Farmers Express Displeasure Over Tobacco Prices

Source from:  newsnet.co.zw 04/11/2005

Business at the three main tobacco auction floors in Harare kicked off on a slow note as farmers and buyers continue to disagree on the right price. As the 2005 tobacco selling season entered its second day farmers who delivered their tobacco to the floors continued with their protest against prices which have fallen from about US2.90 per kilogramme last year to between US$30 and US$1.90 this year. Most farmers who sold their tobacco in the morning later on the day cancelled their sale saying the prices were too low to take the farmer back to the land. Some farmers who spent two nights at the floors in anticipation of a viable price said they were left with no option but to sale their crop at a give away price. Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Dr Joseph Made assured farmers that modalities to address the plight of tobacco growers are being put in place following after the Reserve Banks's intervention. About one hundred thousand nine hundred and fifty nine kilograms of tobacco worth more than six hundred and seventy million dollars have so far been sold at the Tobacco Sales Floors. Enditem