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Harare Bureau
Tobacco deliveries are expected to surpass the targeted 165 million kg as growers have sold 160 million kilogrammes of flue cured tobacco worth $473,983 million. Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive, Andrew Matibiri yesterday said tobacco deliveries were continuing at contract floors while a decline had been registered at the auction floors.

“So far 160 million kilogrammes of flue cured tobacco have been sold and we expect more tobacco at the contract floors. Most farmers who sell at the auction floors have sold their crop. Only Mashonaland East and Manicaland still have a significant crop,” he said.

Matibiri said the auction floors used to record deliveries of between 8,000 and 10,000 bales a day but were now averaging 3,000 bales.

He said the season was going on well and prices were close to where they were last season.

According to the TIMB statistics, last year same period, 177 million kg worth $564 million had been sold at an average price of $3,18 per kg.

The price is 7,8 percent higher than the current average price of $2,96 per kg.

TIMB statistics show that 42,5 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth $106 million were sold through the auction floors while $117,5 million kilogrammes of the crop worth $368 was sold through the contract sales.

A number of farmers have been complaining of the low prices offered especially at the auction floors while merchants have been complaining of low quality crop.

Matibiri said some farmers lacked knowledge on production and presentation of the crop and were not up to date with market requirements.

“TIMB has partnered with Leaf Trade Limited to educate farmers on the market requirements.

“Merchants no longer want small leaves but now require big and darker leaves. We are assisting farmers to produce a leaf that is required by the buyer so they can get viable prices,” he said.

Zimbabwe is now ranked among world top tobacco producers.