Zimbabwe growers call for government intervention
May 25, 2011—Zimbabwe’s tobacco growers are disgruntled over the flue-cured
prices being offered at the country’s auction floors and are urging the
government to intervene, according to a story in The Standard.
This year, the number of registered tobacco growers surged to 60,000 from
last year’s 15,000 because of the profitable returns that seemed to be on
offer.
However, Zimbabwe Progressive Tobacco Farmers’ Union president, Nicholas
Kapungu, said the prevailing prices at the floors were only serving to deter
new farmers from growing tobacco next season.
“We have a whole lot of experienced farmers in our union who have been
farming tobacco for many years, but the prevailing prices are nothing short
of sabotage,” said Kapungu.
Last week, prices hovered between US$0.80 per kg and US$1.20 per kg,
regardless of crop quality, he added.
“As a union, we are not even consulted when the authorities select buyers,”
said Kapungu. “Government is not paying attention to the needs of farmers
and, as a union, we call upon the authorities to address our plight.”