TANATSWA KANDENGA
Tobacco industry regulator, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), says it will put in place measures to curb side marketing of tobacco during the upcoming 2023/24 marketing season.
Business Times can report that TIMB Inspectorate Department will investigate and penalizes those involved in side- marketing. To combat side marketing, the Department has also been decentralized to all regions.
The TIMB spokesperson, Chelesani Tsarwe confirmed the development saying: ““A state of preparedness will be shared before the marketing season starts. Measures to curb the spread of cholera will also be incorporated” Tsarwe said.
“Contractors are also encouraged to purchase tobacco from growers they contracted and who they availed farming inputs to. This aligns with section 5(1) of SI 61 of 2004. By adhering to these guidelines, we can ensure a fair and transparent tobacco marketing process”.
Tsarwe continued, saying that as of February 2, 2024, 113,101 hectares have been planted for the 2023–2024 season. This is in contrast to the 117,645 hectares planted at the same time the previous year. In anticipation of the forthcoming season, 115,056 growers have registered thus far; this is in contrast to 148,100 growers who registered during the same period previous year.
Contract farmers make up 91% of the registered growers.
TIMB now has Transporters Framework which seeks to ensure all transporters are regulated to ensure growers are protected from unscrupulous transporters during the marketing season.
