Story by Tendai Munengwa
GOVERNMENT has directed the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) to ensure licensed tobacco buyers offer fair prices to farmers and increase sales per day to avoid a situation where farmers are spending days at the floors.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Anxious Masuka during his second assessment tour of tobacco auction floors, where farmers voiced frustration over low prices and long waiting periods.
Farmers complained that tobacco was being sold at unsustainably low prices, with some grades fetching as little as US$0.30 and US$1.19 per kilogramme.
“Honourable Minister, thank you for coming. We are not happy because our tobacco is being bought at very low prices. We will not go back to the land if it remains like this; we need your intervention,” one farmer said.
Another farmer said the low prices were leaving growers in debt after deductions.
“Look at my charge sheet, it is on the negative after all charges have been effected. Tobacco which used to be bought at US$3.50 is now being taken for as low as US$2 and US$0.50. Government must investigate and address it urgently,” the farmer said.
Responding to the concerns, Dr Masuka said President Emmerson Mnangagwa had instructed him to investigate the matter and engage farmers directly.
“President Mnangagwa directed me to come and see again what exactly is causing this. I have come and have seen, and I will go back and brief him. I assure you, the President is a listening leader and your grievances will be addressed soon,” he said.
Following the tour, Dr Masuka directed TIMB to introduce two sales sessions per day at auction floors and ensure all Class A licensed buyers participate in the auction system to improve competition and pricing.
“This wide disparity of prices between auction and contract sales should be addressed. TIMB should enforce regulations that bring all buyers to the auction floors so that there is competition,” he said.
“We have also ordered a second line for second sales so that all farmers and queries are cleared. By Monday, we expect to see change where farmers get good prices and sanity prevails.”
TIMB Chairperson Mr Patrick Devenish said the board would enforce the regulations and ensure all licensed buyers participate at the auction floors.
“We will enforce the regulations and invite all licensed buyers to come to the auction floors by Monday so that they participate and also ensure that second sales are conducted to deal with large volumes of the leaf,” he said.
The intervention comes amid renewed congestion at tobacco auction floors, with some farmers reportedly spending several days waiting for their crop to be sold.
