Harare (New Ziana)-The 2023 tobacco marketing season opened on Wednesday with calls to add value to the crop and not exporting it in its raw form.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga made the call when he officially opened the tobacco selling season at the Tobacco Sales Floor.
“It is disheartening that we export 98 percent of our tobacco in semi- processed form, which means we are literally exporting jobs and value,” he said.
“I am however pleased to note that the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is in advanced discussions for value addition of our tobacco with local and foreign investors,” he said.
VP Chiwenga said the government noted the concerns that were raised that growers were facing viability challenges due to increased production costs.
“To alleviate that, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has consequently increased the foreign currency retention threshold from 75 percent to 85 percent,” he said.
He implored the TIMB to ensure that the whole value chain operated in fairness, ethically and transparently.
“As the 2023 tobacco marketing season takes off, the TIMB should enhance transparency and fair tobacco sales at contract and auction floors, including analysing, recommending, improving and facilitating equitable, transparent and profitable sharing of expenses and profits throughout the tobacco value chain,” said VP Chiwenga.
Speaking at the same occasion, Patrick Devenish, chairman of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) said other than good rains, the sector also registered 3 283 new growers, a sign of “increasing appetite” to grow the crop.
“For every good thing, there seems to be a pullback force and for us this season it was sporadic cases of hail and early flowering of some tobacco plants.
“Our crop assessment reveals that we can produce 230 million kg of tobacco this season,” he said.
To offtake the expected tobacco, Devenish said the board licensed two auction floors, namely Tobacco Sales Floor and Premier Auction Tobacco Floor.
Sales will be conducted in Harare as well as five decentralised centres in Karoi, Mvurwi, Bindura, Marondera and Rusape.
The first bale of tobacco fetched $4.35 per kg while the lowest price paid for the crop was $1.85.
New Ziana
