Chipata Farmer Bemoans the Low Tobacco Prices

Source from:  zana.gov.zm 04/28/2006

Chipata, April 26, ZANIS farmer of Kamamphina Village in Chief Chanje area in Chipata has bemoaned the re-introduction of tobacco floor prices.. Gibson Banda said the tobacco floor prices of between K1,200 and K4,500 per kilogramme were too low considering the high costs of production and transportation of the tobacco to the market. He said the ideal price should be K5,300 per kilogramme in order for the farmers to recover their costs. He said farmers incurred losses through transport costs to take their tobacco to the market centre at Mugubudu which was far away. Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Chipata today, Mr. Banda complained that the Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ), which should have been defending farmers by putting up favourable prices had not done so. He said farmers this marketing season were facing a lot of hardships because when shades in their respective areas were full they were asked to take their tobacco to Tobacco Association of Zambia shades in Chipata at their expense. Mr. Banda said the farmers plight was worsened by tobacco buyers who are not paying them within the agreed three days but instead took three weeks to pay for the tobacco. Mr. Banda has since appealed for government intervention to save the farmers from being exploitation. Enditem