The Tobacco Growers Association warned this week that Zimbabwean authorities appeared overwhelmed and their failure to supply the material in time was compromising the quality of the golden leaf, which deteriorates if it is kept in barns for a long time. The situation is particularly dire this year, as Zimbabwe’s tobacco earnings are projected to slip further. Ten years ago the size of the crop, the nation’s top foreign exchange earner was pegged at 165 million kg, but this year hardly 40 million kg is expected.
Justice for Agriculture said the shortage of hessian and the dramatic drop in the size of the crop reflected the knock-on effects of the seizure of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to black Zimbabweans. Propak, which holds the monopoly in supplying the Hessian material, attributed the acute shortages to high demand.
Managing director Patrick Maenzanise said: Yes the situation was quite challenging due to high demand by farmers, but we are working flat out to deal with the situation. Today we have supplies from TPZ, and another consignment is in transit from Beitbridge. This I believe will go a long way in cushioning the farmers. A crippling shortage of hard currency needed for importing the material has particularly hit the tobacco sector hardest.
Post published in: News