GOVERNMENT through Tobacco Board of Zambia(TBZ) is this week expected to open market for all the independent tobacco farmers in Eastern Province.
Eastern Independent Tobacco Growers Association Chairperson James Nyirenda confirmed that yesterday Government through TBZ would this week finally start the buying process for all the remaining tobacco in the province.
He has thanked the Government for giving independent growers market, which they have been looking for since the opening of the marketing season.
Meanwhile,TBZ Board Chairperson Rhidah Mung’omba said TBZ would mop up all the crop that has been stuck due to lack of market in Eastern Province.
Mr Mung’omba said that farmers should not worry because their crop would be bought.
He said that TBZ was hopeful that by this week, all logistics would be in place so that farmers could sell their crop and concentrate on other things.
He stated that TBZ would not abandon farmers because they had put in a lot of effort to produce the cash crop.
Mr Mung’omba further explained that TBZ was putting in place measures to ensure that the issue of farmers getting stranded with the crop does not happen again.
He said that farmers need to ensure that they register with Eastern Fodya Association of Zambia (EFAZ) for the next farming season.
