Tobacco farmers have collectively earned $761 029 from the 518 255 kilogrammes of the crop sold on the second day of the selling season, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board has said. The 2016 tobacco selling season opened on Wednesday at the auction floors and Thursday at the contract floors. TIMB statistics show that the volumes sold on the second day this season increased by 41, 47 percent from the 366 348 kilogrammes of the crop worth $542 345 sold during the corresponding period last year.
This season tobacco volumes are expected to decline by 20 percent due to the El Nino induced drought which affected the crop.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board public relations manager, Mr Isheunesu Moyo said sales went well on the first and second day of the selling season although there were some challenges with some farmers who wanted to resist the new payment method.
This season, farmers will not be paid cash but will be paid through their bank accounts.
“Sales have been going on well on the first and second days and growers were paid through their bank accounts. Most growers who did not have accounts managed to open at the auction floors.
“However payments on the first day were delayed because some farmers were not compliant with regulatory requirements such as registrations, submission of estimates and opening of accounts,” he said.
Some farmers said they were hoping on tobacco for their livelihoods as their maize had failed due to the drought.
Mt Darwin farmer, Mr Brighton Samson said he hoped to buy grain using proceeds from tobacco.
“This crop is our only hope, hopefully we will continue to get fair prices and we can also have a price as high as $5 per kg at the auction floors,” he said.
Agriculture has remained the mainstay of the economy which is projected to grow by 3,4 percent in 2016, mainly anchored on tobacco production. — BH24.