The ManicaPost
At least 4 023 kilograms of tobacco worth $10,1 million has been sold through both auction and contract systems since the selling season commenced last week, the industry regulator has said.
The volume of tobacco sold so far is about 20,1 percent higher than 3 349 kg valued at $6,8 million sold during the same period last year.
Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) show that as at the fifth day of sales, tobacco was being sold at an average price of $2,53 per kilogramme, representing a 23 percent increase from $2,03 during the same period in 2016.
According to the TIMB, tobacco is fetching the highest price of $5,40 per kg at the contract floors and $4,99 per kg at auction sales.
So far, the lowest price of $0,10 per kg has been recorded at both auction and contract sales floor.
TIMB also said reaping of the late dry land tobacco is still in progress while grading of the irrigated crop is also underway.
The farmers are however facing several challenges, chief among them shortage of curing fuel (coal and firewood), poor curing, grading and storage facilities especially for small scale farmers as well as bad road network to the market resulting in increased transport costs.
This year, tobacco is being sold using the electronic marketing system to stop price collusion and sharing by buyers as well as other unscrupulous practices associated with the traditional way of buying tobacco.
Zimbabwe anticipates an output of 202 million kg of tobacco during the 2016/17 selling season. – New Ziana.
