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Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement is satisfied with the tobacco auction floors’ preparations for the opening of the 2021 marketing season.
The tobacco marketing season opens on April 7 while contract floors are expected to open on April 8.
This morning Lands, Agriculture Deputy minister Vangelis Haritatos toured the Zimbabwe Leaf Tobacco, Tobacco Sales Floor and TianZe to assess the preparedness for the marketing season.
All the floors indicated that they were going to follow strict regulations in line with the WHO guidelines of Covid 19 to curb the spread of the pandemic.
The floor operators indicated that they were encouraging their staff to be vaccinated while farmers will not be allowed to stay at the floors.
Deputy Minister Haritatos said he was impressed by the level of preparedness.
“We are happy with what we have seen. The three tobacco floors are on top of the game. This year they have increased efficiencies. The most important part of the preparations is the Covid-19. We know tobacco floors are already organised but we are looking at the regulations they have put in place. We want to save the lives of our people, growers and staff are important to us.
“We have seen that the regulations are being followed. We commend the tobacco industry for taking such steps. This year the floors have improved on the Covid-19 regulations.
“This year is going to be better in terms of the quality of the crop,” he said.
Online Reporter