Buyers want only flavor tobacco from Zimbabwe

Preparations for Zimbabwe’s 2015 flue-cured marketing season have started with merchants indicating they will not be buying low-grade tobacco this season, according to a story by Elita Chikwati for the Zimbabwe Herald.

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chairperson, Monica Chinamasa, was quoted as saying that buyers wanted good cured leaf and would not accept scrap and primings because this sort of tobacco could be obtained cheaper elsewhere.

“Farmers are aware of this position and they should present a high quality crop to get good prices,” she was quoted as saying.

“Merchants want the Zimbabwean tobacco for its unique flavor. We produce a good flavor because of the good climatic conditions.”

Chinamasa said the TIMB had yet to decide on an opening date for sales, but added that the auction floors had already registered to operate this year.