Zanu-PF bemoans low tobacco prices

Zanu-PF national Youth League has called for urgent investment in beneficiation of tobacco to save the industry from collapsing.

The members, who met the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board executive and toured auction floors yesterday, raised concern over the low prices prevailing this season.

They complained over a price ceiling of $4,99 per kilogramme at the auction floors when prices at the contract floors were going as high as $6,25 per kg.

Zanu-PF Youth League secretary Pupurayi Togarepi complained that buyers were exploiting farmers by offering low prices that were not viable.

Togarepi said the TIMB was not doing enough to protect farmers from unscrupulous buyers.

He called for the beneficiation of the crop to add value and increase profits.