Seed sales plunge

Tobacco seed sales in Zimbabwe have plummeted 55.2 percent as farmers grapple with viability challenges ahead of the 2019/2020 season, reports Newsday.

As of July 22, 2019, only 320 kilograms had been bought by farmers against the 715 kilograms purchased during the same period last year.

“Poor prices (at the auction floors) are said to have affected the preparation of seedbeds for the coming crop,” said Zimbabwe Tobacco Association chief executive Rodney Ambrose.

“These seedbeds should have been planted in June, but many growers were not in a good enough financial position to start the process. So, more bad news might be on the way. We sincerely hope seed sales and farmers crop preparations improve in the next month.”