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Brenda Ziga Herald Reporter
TOBACCO deliveries have increased by 54 percent this year compared to the same period last year, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board has said.
TIMB statistics show that there was an increase from 1,3 million kilogrammes sold for $2,7 million last year in the first four days of selling to 2 million kg sold for $3,6 million since the auction floors opened on March 30.
This shows an increase of 33 percent of the sales.
Average prices declined from $2,08 per kg offered last year to $1,79 this year during the same period.
The number of bales laid this year are 29 606 compared to 22 076 laid during the corresponding period last year.
The highest price is $5,20 on day four compared to $4,96 last year.
Chidziva Tobacco Processors (CTP) managing director Mr Kevin Butler said the quality of tobacco had improved compared to last year.
“The quality of tobacco that we have so far received for the past four days has shown improvement from the last year and we are hoping that this will not change,” he said.
He said the CTP was doing its best to ensure that tobacco farmers get satisfaction as they worked hard in the production of the crop.
“Our customers do not have to wait long periods for them to get their money. We try to make it smooth because they have worked hard,” he said.
Some farmers said they were pinning their hopes on the golden leaf as their maize had failed due to the El Nino-induced drought.
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