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The first 21 days of the 2016 marketing season saw 33million kg of tobacco sold at the auction floors compared to 19,635 million kg sold during the same period last season which is an increase in terms of volumes of 67.84 percent. The thrust of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board which is not only volumes but improvement in terms of quality seems to have been met by the seven percent increase in average price to $2.70 per kg up from $2.52 last season. At this rate, Zimbabwe should be able to maintain its position of having the second best average price for flue cured Virginia tobacco after United States of America.

Tobacco farmers have so far pocketed $89 million through the banking system, which is an indication of the success of the financial inclusion.

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board has facilitated for farmers who had opened accounts with banking institutions that are facing liquidity challenges to move to those where they are able to withdraw up to US$10,000.

This having been said, farmers are still encouraged not to carry wads of cash and to use plastic money wherever possible so as to experience the full benefits of financial inclusion.

Improving agronomic practices in Zimbabwe are evidenced by the low bale rejection rate of 7.1 percent of the laid 444,265 bales compared to 11 percent of the 279,469 laid bales by the same time last year, among other factors.

As farmers continue to bring their produce to the market, they should also start preparing for the next tobacco season through registration, buying their inputs and more importantly adhering to the legislative dates for the destruction of tobacco stalks, sowing and transplanting as stipulated in the Plant Pest and Diseases (Tobacco) Regulations, 1979 Statutory Instrument 711 /1979.

All tobacco growers are reminded that the Plant Pests and Diseases Act requires that all tobacco stalks be destroyed by 15 May of every year.

Destruction of stalks helps to reduce carryover of diseases and pests. This is most effective when tobacco stalks are destroyed immediately after the final harvest.

Tobacco growers who fail to destroy tobacco stalks should be reported to Department of Research and Specialist Services (Plant Quarantine Services Institute, PQSI), Agritex, Tobacco Research Board (TRB) or Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).Reports can be made to all PQSI offices or at TIMB regional offices located in Bindura, Mvurwi, Chinhoyi, Karoi, Marondera and Rusape.

Growers should also take note of the following legislated dates:

Earliest date for sowing seed-1 June

Earliest date for transplanting -1 September

Last day of destroying all seedbeds -31 December

For a contravention of regulations requiring the destruction of tobacco plants by a specified date or prohibiting the planting of tobacco plants between specified dates, a grower will be subjected to the following-

a)For a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $100 for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment:

b)For a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $200 for each hectare or part thereof in respect of which the offence is committed or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

For additional Information contact

TIMB on telephone numbers 0772145166/9 or 0279-22082/21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268/29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free Number 0731999999 or E-mail: [email protected]