Maravi

(HERALD ZW) Resettled farmers delivered 43pc of auctioned tobacco

COMMENT - This is an excellent vindication of the land reform program. Not only are Zimbabwean farmers working without state support - unlike farmers in the US and EU - they are bouncing back from the destruction of their currency by ZDERA Section 4C, which has been putting a credit freeze on the Zimbabwean government since Jan 1st 2002. Also notice that it are the far more numerous smaller scale (50 ha) A1 farmers who are collectively out-producing the larger scale (250 ha) commercial A2 farmers.

Resettled farmers delivered 43pc of auctioned tobacco
Wednesday, 27 June 2012 12:40
Agriculture Reporter

Resettled farmers have contributed over 43 percent of the tobacco sold so far with the A1 sector leading. Tobacco growers have increased as a result of the land reform programme. The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board statistics show that as at June 15, A1 farmers constituted 31 percent of the tobacco sales, while A2 farmers constituted 12 percent.

By June 15, A1 farmers had sold 36 127 386 kilogrammes of the golden leaf and A2 farmers had sold 14, 1 million kilogrammes. The large-scale commercial sector contributed 26 percent, communal sector 21 percent and small scale commercial 10 percent.

A1 farmers are also topping on registrations. So far 32 019 farmers have registered for this season constituting 46 percent followed by large scale commercial 25 647 (43) percent and small scale commercial 72 13 (11) percent.

TIMB also revealed that Mashonaland West province was leading in tobacco sales with 34 percent of the crop sold so far from that province.

Mashonaland Central has contributed 27 percent, Mashonaland East 24 percent, Manicaland 15 percent, Matabeleland and Midlands 0,02 and 0,23 percent respectively.

Meanwhile, the current seasonal mass of flue cured tobacco has increased to 124,9 million kilogrammes, an increase from 117,4 million kilogrammes sold the same period last year.

Deliveries at auction floors have further dropped signaling an early finish of the 2012 tobacco marketing season.

Burley tobacco sales continue with 41 368 kilogrammes sold so far, registering a decrease of 931 percent from the 426 407 kilogrammes sold same period last year. The fall in burley tobacco has been attributed to lack of markets as growers struggled to secure buyers of their crop last season. TIMB has, however, said most farmers were yet to bring their crop to the market.

Dark air cured tobacco sales have also decreased to 145 456 kilogrammes from last year’s 293 000 kilogrammes.

A total of 150 million kilogrammes of the golden leaf is expected to go under the hammer this season. Some tobacco expects say the target may not be reached considering the continuous decline in daily tobacco deliveries to the auction floors.

Zimbabwe is regaining its status as one of the major tobacco producers in the world.

Labels: A1 FARMERS, A2 FARMERS, LAND REFORM, TOBACCO

posted by MrK @ 4:10 PM