Andrew
Online Reporter
Tobacco farmers who are caught side-marketing their crop will face the full wrath of the law, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has said.
Statutory Instrument 77 of 2022 stipulates that farmers are expected to sell their crop to legally licensed contractors who provided them with inputs.
“All manner of side-marketing is prohibited,” said TIMB in a statement on Tuesday.
“Any person who participates in side-marketing shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a maximum of six months or to both such a fine and imprisonment.”
Side-marketing is a form of contract default where a contracted tobacco farmer sells his/her tobacco to a third party in breach of a legally binding contractual agreement, which states that contracted tobacco shall only be sold to or bought by the licensed contractor who provided inputs to such a grower.
According to the regulations, in addition to the fine and imprisonment, defaulters may be required to compensate three times the loss suffered by any particular contractor.
Online Reporter
Tinaye Agere