Farmers seek review of tobacco modalities

◆ From page B1 that prejudice farmers or create loopholes and opportunities for them to be exploited, such as the requirement for farmers to ferry their crop using only 7 tonne trucks or those with bigger capacity.

“If someone has their own small truck, let’s say T35, what is wrong about letting them use it to deliver and book their crop and then sell the following day as required.

“Why should a farmer be forced to hire those that are charging as much as US $10 per bale; they have created a leeway for opportunists; as such there is an outcry from farmers,” Mr Makombe said.

Further, farmers want to be allowed to accompany their crop to the floors and witness sales, arguing there is risk of them being duped by their representatives on quality as bales maybe exchanged.

TIMB chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri confirmed saying a meeting was held with farmers last week and their representations had been lodged with Government.

“We held a meeting with farmers on Friday last week and presented suggested reviews and these have been considered by the (TIMB) committee and have been forwarded for authorisation, but we have not yet received the authorisation. I am expecting something before the end of day today (Tuesday),” Dr Matibiri said.

Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s biggest export crop and the country’s second largest foreign currency earner after gold and earns the country around US$1 billion annually.

The earnings go a significant way in enhancing the country’s trade balance, which has averaged minus US$233 million between 1991 and 2019, before posting a surplus of US$293 million last December. Deliveries, which totalled 258 million kilogrammes last year, are projected to decline 20 percent this year due to the negative impact of spells of dry weather and drought on crop development experienced in many parts of the country.