Farmers lose out

In Tanzania, ‘excess tobacco’ is rotting as the government and potential buyers haggle over what price it should fetch, according to a story in The Citizen relayed by the TMA.

The tobacco was grown by members of the Amahoro Tobacco Primary Co-operative Society at Ulyankulu in the Tabora Region.

In negotiations that are said to have dragged on, the potential buyers have offered to pay $1.35 per kg, while the government believes it is worth $1.75 per kg.

But nature might resolve the issue.

The chairman of the co-operative, Fulgence Erasto, said that, with ongoing rain, the tobacco had started accumulating moisture and rotting.

“Look, this tobacco is no longer suitable for the market,” he said.

“This is a loss to the farmers.”