admin“This was a difficult season. We had low rains and this affected quality as the leaf was not heavy enough” said Desmond Chikuvanyanga (38), a tobacco farmer from Chiweshe. I started tobacco farming in 2013 when I realised that those who were in the industry were making good monies. In the few years I have farmed tobacco, I built a home and bought a herd of cattle.We experienced fair prices and I am considering drip irrigation for next season so as to avert the harsh climatic weather conditions, added Chikuvanyanga.
This season farmers havehitherto pocketed $200 million, all of which was paid through the banking system and this is a 45 percent increase on the earnings of $139 million realised by the same time last season.
The average price for the golden leaf is currently $2,83 compared to the $2.80while bale rejection rate has declined with improving knowledge and quality as evidenced by 6,39 percent of 963 393 bales laid compared to 9.56 percent of the 689 507 bales laid last season.
The average prices for top primings has increased by 25 percent from $2,26 to $2,82 and for medium primings by 23 percent from $1,61 to $1,98 while for poor primings price has also increased by 22 percent from $1,00 to $1,22.
Average price for top quality lugs is at $3,75 per kg up from $3,52 last season while medium quality lugs are selling at an average of $2,79 compared to $2,58 last season and poor quality selling at an average of $1,53 up from $1,46 last season.
The top quality leaf is averaging $4,85 and the medium quality leaf is averaging $3,87 while the poor quality leaf is sold for an average of $2,45.
On the 32nd day of the 2016 tobacco marketing season, 66,8 million kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold with 53,36 million having been sold under the contract system and 13,45 million sold under the auction system.
This is an increase of 42 percent from the 47 million that had been sold by the same time last season.
Chikuvanyanga said he learnt tobacco farming from the contractors but after some considerations this season he reverted to the auction system.
“I only heard about problems of accessing money on the radio before I came to sell but have not experienced them personally, maybe because I only withdraw what I need to use and not everything in my account. Having money deposited in the bank reduces chances of theft and I think we need to move with the times. Moving with money is backward.”
In addition to the policy introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe where all proceeds from tobacco are deposited in farmers’ bank accounts, the central bank has also introduced an export incentive for tobacco farmers where they will be paid an extra five percent as a way to encourage them to continue farming the golden leaf.
Meanwhile, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) encourages farmers to renew their growers’ numbers for next season at a cost of $10 as well as remind tobacco farmers to adhere to the legislative date for the destruction of stalks so as not to incur unnecessary costs.
TIMB is also availing drip irrigation kits to cover one hectare of tobacco to small scale tobacco farmers who have water sources, under a revolving fund from Agribank to be paid back over two seasons and farmers are urged to apply for this facility at TIMB offices near them.
Furthermore TIMB encourages farmers to attend float tray seedbed preparation trainings conducted in conjunction with TRB, AGRITEX and Farmers Development Trust (FDT) in the districts at no cost to the farmers, as we prepare for the 2017 tobacco farming season.
For additional Information contact TIMB at429 Glen Eagles Road, Southerton, Harare or write to us on P.O Box 10214, Harare or on telephone numbers 0772145166 /9 or 0279-22082 /21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268/ 29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free Number 0731999999 or E-mail: [email protected]
Online Reporter