High tobacco prices boost farmers’ earnings

Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter

Higher tobacco prices this year have seen tobacco farmers earning over US$200 million from the sale of 61 499 132 kilogrammes of flue-cured tobacco at both auction and contract floors against the US$185 578 595 earned last year for the first 61 916 474 kg, a price rise of 17 percent.

Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) showed that just over 5 percent of sales, a total of 3 606 606 kg worth US$13 388 236 million, was sold through the auction floors while almost 95 percent or 57 892 526 million kg worth US$204 628 971 was sold at contract floors.

Farmers are continuing to deliver their crop with both sets of floors busy. Tobacco deliveries have also increased as most farmers have finished processing their crop for sale. Notably, the majority of farmers are also delivering their crop as they raise money for school fees ahead of schools opening next month.

Tobacco is a major crop across the natural region two belt in the Mashonaland provinces and northern Manicaland and has been a major development driver in this belt.

In interviews, farmers expressed confidence with prices at the auction floors.

Mr Evidence Takawira of Mt Darwin described this year’s tobacco marketing season as successful compared to last year since farmers are not facing any payment delays.

“This season is better; we are all assured of our payments on time. We want money to pay for school fees. That’s why we have decided to come and sell our crop. This is the best time to sell tobacco because as time goes on prices are likely to go down,” he said.

Another farmer Mrs Taifirei Kaitano of Darwendale said prices were not bad, adding that poor rainfall had compromised this year’s output.

“This year our crop did not do well but we managed to produce something meaningful for us to survive. Our crop quality was also affected hence it also affects prices as well,” she said.

Premier Tobacco Auction Floor executive director Mr Owen Murumbi said there was a need to localise funding and allow farmers to be involved in the value chain.

Zimbabwe is among the top five major producers of flue-cured tobacco globally.