The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has increased the number of licensed tobacco contractors from 39 to 42, as farmers intensify tobacco planting for the present season.
TIMB public affairs officer, Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe, yesterday said the increase of contractors would mean more businesses funding the tobacco industry.
TIMB has to check out all who wish to contract farmers to produce tobacco, making sure they have adequate resources and will follow the rules, and then regulates and monitors them along with the farmers to ensure all contracts are both fair and are honoured by both the contractor and the farmer.
“TIMB licensed 42 contractors, the increase is a symbol of more funders and players who are funding tobacco production which can increase output as we work towards increasing productivity,” said Mrs Tsarwe.
TIMB was working towards producing 300 million kilogrammes of tobacco a year by 2025.
By yesterday, TIMB had registered 140 188 growers for the current season compared to 113 477 last year.
Mrs Tsarwe encouraged all in the industry to comply with the regulations that have been put in place in order to ensure an orderly and smooth season.
Farmers unions stressed that strict monitoring is needed to ensure that farmers get their payments on time from contractors
The Zimbabwe Farmers Union’s business development manager Mr Dennis Chisevure said the increase of contractors will mean a lot of competition on the industry leading to improvement in payments and welfare of farmers.
Farmers will also have a wider choice of choosing contractors but urged TIMB to monitor and control the contractors so that they follow the regulations laid down.
“To me this is a welcome development. There will more competition. We are hoping to produce more in the next season. Control is also needed to ensure that the farmers’ welfare is met,” he said.
The Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president, Mr Victor Mariranyika, said some of the contractors were not performing well leading to delays in payment of farmers as well as in delays in procuring inputs.
TIMB needed to monitor the situation and ensure that farmers are fairly treated.
“Last year, our farmers were not happy with some of the contractors, some have not been given their payments up to now,” said Mr Mariranyika. “Moreover, some of the contractors have even changed their trade names since they were not performing well.”
Mr Mariranyika said it was crucial for the regulator to ask the farmers about the performance of contractors before licensing them.
Recently, TIMB banned Voedsel from contracting tobacco farmers after the company failed to pay its farmers. – The Herald
