TIMB injects $28m to assist farmers

Mellisa Mutasa Herald Reporter
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board says it has extended $28 million to farmers in an effort to increase productivity. This was said by TIMB board chairperson Mrs Monica Chinamasa on Thursday at the Tobacco Sales Floor grower of the year awards.

She said the tobacco industry needed support as it earned the country foreign currency and provided livelihoods to thousands of farmers.

“I am proud to say in an effort to increase tobacco production in the country, on behalf of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Settlement, TIMB has rolled out $28 million to assist farmers.

“Farmers should strive to produce the best of the grade that can be produced in their areas as prices are determined by the quality of the crop,” said Mrs Chinamasa.

She urged farmers to register and book their tobacco on time, to grade the crop properly, to provide estimates, to shun side marketing and to sell their tobacco to authorised companies.

Sponsors of the awards that included Agribank, Barclays, Zimbabwe Seed Association and CABS urged farmers to approach their institutions for assistance.

Farmers were advised to attend agriculture training programmes offered by agricultural institutions like TIMB, Tobacco Research Board, Department of Agritex and Farmers Development Trust to improve their knowledge and farming practices.

TIMB said the agricultural industry must be given maximum support as agriculture was the main pillar of the economy.

Farmers were also urged to practice afforestation and to establish woodlots.