Tobacco sales to surpass target, TIMB
17/07/2012 00:00:00
by Roman Moyo
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has said tobacco deliveries
for the 2012 surpassed the revised target of 133 million kgs two weeks
before the close of the marketing season.
The initial output target of 180 million kgs was revised downwards early
this year following a decline in the planted hectarage caused by lack of
funding.
But TIMB chief executive officer Andrew Matibiri said the board was set to
revise next year’s target upwards ahead of the close of the marketing
season.
“This shows that tobacco is still coming through. We have an idea on how
much we are to revise upwards as the tobacco season ends on July 27 2012,”
Matibiri said.
Latest figures from TIMB show that 134 million kg of tobacco valued at
US$496,3 million was delivered to the country’s auction floors as of Friday,
a 45 per cent increase on the US$343 million recorded during the same period
last year.
Meanwhile, in a circular to farmers, the TIMB said the flue-cured auction
tobacco clean-up sales would be held on Wednesday July 22.
“Depending on the volume of deliveries, the clean-up sale may be continued
for more than one day until all delivered tobacco has been sold,” the Board
said.
“Because of the volumes that are still being received, contract sales will
continue until further notice. Nonetheless, contracted growers are advised
to finalise the grading and marketing of their tobacco.”
Tobacco production has been recovering over the last few years after
collapsing at the start of the last decade as the sector adjusted to changes
following the country’s land reform programme.