Maravi

(HERALD) The tobacco gold rush . . .

The tobacco gold rush . . .
Saturday, 17 September 2011 22:14
By Faith Mhandu

OVER 20 000 farmers have registered to grow tobacco in the coming 2011/12 season, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has said. TIMB chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said the farmers had registered to produce flue-cured tobacco next season.

“The number of farmers who have so far registered to plant tobacco in the coming season has doubled what we had in the same period last season which is a clear indication that farmers now appreciate the importance of registration,” said Dr Matibiri.

He said the deadline for registration was October 31 adding that farmers were supposed to register on time to avoid a last-minute rush.

Only a quarter of the number expected to grow tobacco this year had registered so far.

Dr Matibiri said: “We are expecting the number to be slightly above the 66 000 that grew tobacco in the previous season.”

“TIMB has also decentralised the registration process to tobacco growing districts in a bid to help farmers cut on travel costs,” said Dr Matibiri.
“Farmers from Mvurwi, Chinhoyi and Marondera can now register close to their home towns to cut transport costs.”

Meanwhile, burley tobacco sales are in progress at the Boka Auction Floors and last week more than 2 000 bales were sold by Thursday night.

“A total of 2 084 bales were sold this week with a mass of 124 427 kilogrammes raking in US$142 555,35 at an average cost of US$1,15 per kg,” said Dr Matibiri.
TIMB said burley sales would continue at the Boka Auction Floors.

In a related development, TIMB said mop-up sales would start on September 20 and run until all the tobacco delivered to the floors this year has been sold.

The tobacco that went under the hammer this year totalled 131 million kg raking in US$358 million with mop-up sales scheduled to last until the end of September.

TIMB and other stakeholders in the tobacco industry had projected more than 170 million kg of the golden leaf to go under the hammer this year.

Labels: TOBACCO

posted by MrK @ 2:56 PM