TIMB suspends 448 farmers for side marketing

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has suspended 448 tobacco growers for side-marketing as it moves to stamp out the scourge which is crippling the operations of contractors, Business Times can report.

Side marketing is when tobacco growers sell their tobacco to third parties in breach of the contractual agreement that tobacco shall only be sold to or bought by the contractor who provided inputs to the grower.

It is also when an individual sells tobacco on behalf of another.

TIMB acting CEO Emmanuel Matsvaire confirmed the suspension.

“It is sufficient to mention that side marketing can be perpetrated by a farmer, an unlicensed buyer, or an errant licensed contractor. This criminal practice is responsible for the loss of millions of dollars annually and has the potential to kill the tobacco industry.

“This year, 2023, we are on an accelerated drive to ensure orderly tobacco marketing and end tobacco side marketing,” Matsvaire said.

He said the tobacco regulator was armed with SI 77 of 2022 as well as the Contractors’ Compliance Administration Framework as the main tool to fight side marketing vowing that there will be no “sacred cows”.

“All tobacco stakeholders are mandated to fully utilise the TIMB booking system.  A grower should book their tobacco for sale in advance. This helps us detect side marketing and stop it,” Matsvaire said.

TIMB has also extended the arm of the inspectorate department, as it will be conducting random inspections of farms, sales floors, and warehouses throughout the season.

The inspectors will also conduct intelligence-led operations in partnership with law enforcement agencies for example surveillance patrols and stops and search at roadblocks.

Matsvaire said it was “illogical and cost-ineffective” to bring 20 bales to the market on a Monday then bring 10 on Wednesday and 15 on Friday the same week only to bring similar amounts of tobacco in the following week.

“Such sales behaviour is typical of tobacco farmers who sell tobacco on behalf of their peers or illegal tobacco buyers who buy the golden leaf from farmers at low prices only to come and resell it at auction or contract floors at a higher price,” he said.

“We have blocked these growers from making more sales to make sure we only have legitimate tobacco farmers selling.  The individuals with blocked grower numbers should approach TIMB with their sales sheets, and verify that they are legitimate tobacco growers selling their produce.”

TIMB will send a technical team for farm visits to verify by physically inspecting the respective farms and if they are legitimate growers will unblock their grower numbers.

TIMB said it will continue to educate and carry awareness campaigns targeted at all tobacco industry stakeholders so that they know the implications and negative effects of side marketing and invite whistle-blowers to give anonymous tip-offs on online platforms.