adminAccording to statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), as at 16 November, 62 405 growers had registered to grow the crop compared to 31 941 at the same time last year.
“To date, about 62 405 growers have registered for 2013 season compared to about 31 941 who had registered the same period last year,” said TIMB.
The data showed that the crop was being grown in seven of the 10 provinces of the country.
Tobacco is grown by communal, A1, A2, and small-scale farmers in Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Mashonaland East, and West, Masvingo and Matabeleland that has one farmer so far.
The golden leaf is the top agricultural export earner with most farmers around the country turning to tobacco production, abandoning or reducing the hectarage of other crops.
TIMB chief executive officer Dr Andrew Matibiri said they continue to urge the farmers to register with the board before 31 October of each year as stipulated by the law.
Upon registering, the farmer gets a growers’ number which enables the selling of the crop during the marketing season.
“The Tobacco Marketing and Levy Act stipulates the farmers should ensure that they are registered to grow the crop before the 30th of October each year.
“After the October deadline, we don’t actually stop the farmers from registering to grow the crop, but (they) are penalised and the penalty fee is $10 in addition to the registration fee of $10, they are supposed to pay,” he said.
Dr Matibiri said farmers who register after 31 December would be charged $40 penalty fee in addition to the $10 registration fee.
He would not be drawn into ascertaining the number of farmers who had so far missed the 31 October deadline.
“We have not as yet done the exercise to determine the number of farmers who missed the deadline and the revenue generated as a result,” he said.
Online Reporter