Minister speaks out against leaf price anomalies during Zimbabwe sales

Zimbabwe’s Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister, Dr. Joseph Made, has said that the use of price ‘barriers’ during the 2012 tobacco sales season should not be allowed to continue next year, according to a story in The Herald.

In a speech read on his behalf at a National Tobacco Workshop to mark the end of the 2012 tobacco marketing season, Made said a cap of US$4.99 per kg was used in the most recent season, resulting in a number of tobacco grades of clearly different styles and quality fetching the same price.

“It is my hope that in the next marketing season this price barrier will be no more,” he said.

Made expressed concern also about the big difference that existed between auction floor and contract prices for similar grades. “It is again my trust that will be corrected before the 2013 marketing season opens,” he said.

Made said his ministry would continue to review different pieces of legislation to ensure that every stakeholder was protected.