Story by Tendai Munengwa
TOBACCO farmers have pocketed over US$250 million from selling the golden leaf since the beginning of the marketing season in March.
This Friday marked day 25 since the beginning of the tobacco marketing season, and deliveries by farmers have shot up by 66 percent compared to the same period last year.
Statistics released by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board show that volumes of the golden leaf have hit 94 million kilogrammes, compared to over 56 million kilogrammes delivered in the same period last year.
The average price remains at $2.73, with over 400 million kilogrammes expected to go under the hammer.
A visit to the auction floors indicates that the season is approaching its peak as queues of trucks delivering the golden leaf are now being witnessed at the floors.
With deliveries gravitating towards 100 million kilogrammes so far, observers are upbeat that volumes will increase as farmers intensify deliveries as the marketing season progresses.
