By Bernard Mutambuzi

The Parliamentary Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement today had a familiarisation tour to Boka and Premier Auction floors to get an appreciation of the tobacco selling season.

The committee, with 34 members, was led by acting Chairperson, Tafanana Zhou.

Speaking after the tour, Zhou said they had a better understanding of the challenges farmers were facing.

"Our role as Parliament is to provide oversight," he said.

Zhou said they had recorded farmers’ concerns, chief among them payment of tobacco in foreign currency.

At both auction floors, farmers complained that they need at least half of their payment in foreign currency and the remaining in RTGS dollars.

Farmers applauded the role Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) is playing in making them secure loans in various banks for them to fully fund their tobacco farming.

"We urge other farmer organisations to fully support the farmer," said Mr Thomas Mukate from Mt Dawrin.

He said the tobacco farming earns a lot of foreign currency to the country.

"Tobacco farming is a cash intensive business, hence it should continue getting maximum support from Government," he continued.

TIMB chairperson, Mrs Chinamasa said her organisation did not dictate the price of tobacco at the floors.

“Prices in the auction floors are determined by merchants because it's a bidding process," said Mrs Chinamasa

She said TIMB was a facilitator between farmers and auctioneers.

Chido Boka, the Managing Director of Boka Tobacco Auction floors, said, “l am not happy with the current prices offered at the moment."

She said as auction floors, they relied on the commission from the sale of tobacco.

“The higher the prices, the higher we get more commission," she said.

She said farmers preferred Boka Auction floors because there is One Stop Shop.

"Our farmers get fertiliser, seeds, chemicals and any related products to tobacco farming under one roof," she said.

She said most farmers had trust in services they offer.

She urged farmers to have bank accounts and growers’ numbers for speedy payment.