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Edgar Vhera Agriculture Specialist Writer
AT least 101 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth US$362 million had been sold by Day 33 of the 2024 marketing season, marking an 18 percent decline from the 123 million kilogrammes during the same period last year.
This comes in the wake of a strong warning by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) to all tobacco value chain players against engaging in side marketing.
Statistics released by TIMB show that 101 005 709kg of tobacco have been sold so far against last year’s 122 543 540kg during the comparable period.
Farmers have since pocketed US$361 586 918 compared to US$367 991 565 during the same period last season signaling a two percent drop. There was, however, a 19 percent increase in average price from US$3, 00 to US$3, 58 per kg.
Growers with free tobacco account for five percent of all sales after delivering 5 714 690kg of the leaf worth US$21 532 666 at an average price of US$3, 77 per kg.
Farmers producing tobacco under contract contributed 95 percent after the selling 95 291 019kg of the leaf valued at US$340 054 252 at an average price of US$3, 57 per kg.
The price at the auction continues to outsmart that under contract by six percent.
This year’s bale rejection dropped 11 percent compared to the same period last year, with the auction system having a high rejection level of 12 percent while its contract counterpart had a slight two percent.
The highest price on the both the auction and contract system remained at US$5, 07 and US$6, 99 per kg respectively. The lowest price for both years has remained static at US$0, 10 per kg.
Meanwhile, in a recent X (formerly twitter) post, TIMB warned all growers, transporters and merchants against side-marketing.
Said TIMB: “According to Section 6 Statutory Instrument (SI) 77 (2022) side marketing is a serious offence to growers, transporters and merchants. Facilitating side marketing will attract imprisonment, license cancellation/withdrawal, penalties or grower deactivation.”
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe said it was quite true that opportunists don’t tire in their efforts to fleece farmers of their crop and the subsequent earnings. TIMB has heightened its surveillance against the vice this year.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) chairman Mr George Seremwe yesterday said: “We will continue educating farmers on the need to desist from such practices and make sure contractors do not buy produce they did not finance. Licensing of buyers should be attached to the finance given to the growers and TIMB must be strict on the rules and regulations.”
Online Reporter