Story by Tendai Munengwa
GOVERNMENT is satisfied with preparations for this year’s tobacco marketing season, with auction floors set to officially open on Wednesday next week.
This year’s tobacco marketing season will open with a difference as the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board has ordered all self-financed tobacco to be delivered at auction floors, while a biometric system has been put in place to weed out errant farmers and contractors.
A government delegation led by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Honourable Vangelis Haritatos this Wednesday conducted a pre-tobacco marketing inspection at Tobacco Sales Floors, the venue for the official opening of the marketing season pencilled for the 5th of next month.
“We are impressed by the preparedness of the tobacco industry ahead of the marketing season. We inspected systems including the receiving and dispatching bays, sales points, It’s all in order for farmers to deliveries for sale,” he said.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) Chairperson Patrick Devenish confirmed merchants have been licenced, while stringent measures to curbside marketing of the golden leaf have been put in place.
“We have licensed 55 buyers and all will be in full action to buy – although tobacco is reported to be plenty this time in Brazil and America, we expect a fair pricing matrix for farmers,” he said
This year farmers are expected to break another record in tobacco production, as TIMB has estimated that 300 million kilogrammes will go under the hammer this season.
