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Mixed fortune for tobacco growers

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THE 2015 tobacco marketing season came and went leaving some growers smiling all the way to the bank and others counting their losses.
While it is time for those that had a favourable season on the market to start planning for the next season, it is back to the drawing board for those figuring out what went wrong.
Traditionally the selling of the golden leaf starts mid February, but this season, it was delayed as the rains were received late.
Stakeholders were optimistic and it remained to be seen whether the marketing season would be different from past seasons.
This season was no different from the previous ones as it had its fair share of challenges with the main issue being the issue of prices.
On the very first day of the season, sales had to be abandoned temporarily as farmers protested against the prices which they said were not fair and viable.
Most farmers recalled the sale of their crop as they were disgruntled by the prices offered.
Farmers blamed buyers for being cunning, wanting to reap where they did not sow and purposefully under-pricing their crops.
Merchants on the other hand defend their prices saying the quality of the crop plays a major role in determining the pricing system.
The question that lingered on throughout the marketing season was; are the farmers justified to demand ‘higher’ prices than those offered and are they really victims?
Have the farmers really grasped the production and marketing of the golden leaf?
The opening up of land to the masses by Government resulted in the number of farmers increasing and many venturing into crops such as tobacco which were traditionally a fortress of the white commercial farmers.
The tobacco production sub-sector, a former preserve of white farmers, has grown over the years with production levels rising from an all-time low of 48,8 million kg in 2008 to 215 million kg last season.
Tobacco contributes 20 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The sector accounts for 40 percent of exports and supplies 63 percent of raw materials for agro industries.
The country exports 98 percent of semi-finished tobacco products, with the rest consumed locally.
The many now turning to the cash crop but with lack of adequate production and marketing skills have resulted in quality being compromised.
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has conceded that the bulk of the tobacco it has been receiving since the turn of the millennium was from small-holder farmers.
With this in mind stakeholders have made efforts to ensure that the farmers acquire adequate skills in the production and marketing of the crop.
These programmes are meant to ensure that farmers produce a quality crop and get viable returns from their ventures.
Government through Tobacco Research Board (TRB) has opened 45 tobacco training schools.
These training institutions are open to willing farmers who are trained from the preparation of seedbeds to the marketing of the crop.
TRB has also trained farmers to construct and use energy saving barns.
Tobacco farmers have been accused of promoting deforestation as they cut down trees to cure their crop.
By adopting the use of energy saving barns, farmers will be playing a big part in conserving the environment.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has chipped in educating farmers on the need to have woodlots and replacing the trees cut.
In 2013 the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) and Zimbabwe Progressive Tobacco Farmers Union (ZPTFU) launched training programmes to enhance the knowledge of farmers on tobacco production and marketing.
Under the programmes which are part of the university’s initiatives to assist farmers, participants receive certificates at the end of the programme.
Willing farmers can continue upgrading themselves up to the degree level.
Auction floors have conducted grower’s forums to educate farmers on the marketing of the crop.
Past marketing seasons were also characterised by congestion with some farmers having to spend days and weeks camped outside floors without having sold their crop.
Auction floors blamed farmers for not following the correct marketing procedure of having to book their crop first and being in possession of a grower’s number.
With stakeholders having shown commitment to the development of the tobacco growers it is hoped the farmers seize the opportunity and improve on their skills.
Such concerted efforts will surely ensure that the farmers produce a quality leaf and get ‘better’ prices on the market.

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