Tobacco farmers seek better access to US dollars

TOBACCO farmers want the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to simplify access to the US dollar component of their proceeds, including a portion to be withdrawn in cash, ahead of the opening of this year’s marketing season.

The tobacco marketing season usually starts in March.

Last year farmers were paid half of their earnings through Zimbabwe dollar accounts with the remaining half being deposited into foreign currency accounts.

However, most farmers faced difficulties in accessing their funds due to failure to appreciate the processes involved.

The farmers in their requests are represented by the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union, Tobacco Farmers’ Union Trust, Tobacco Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Tobacco Association and Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union.

The farmers’ challenges were outlined in a letter detailing their requests for the 2020 selling season that was sent to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement last week.

The farmers complained of significant loss of value of tobacco proceeds during the 2019 tobacco marketing season.

This left many growers exposed to reduced profitability, inability to retool for the 2020 season, increased contract farming for input support, the multi-tier pricing, and the inability to access 50 percent US dollar retention and inability to access cash as per the RBZ guidelines among others.

“The farmers want full resolution of the outstanding US dollar nostro amounts from last season and the 2008 US dollar tobacco Treasury Bills,” they said in a letter to the RBZ.

“They want all their US dollar sales proceeds, after US dollar loan repayments, paid into growers nostro accounts by the contractor, not the RBZ, and be paid via commercial banks at point of sale, on day of sale.

“They want no limits on when they liquidate their nostro accounts, they want a favourable exchange rate when retooling, and they want to be able to convert a minimum of US$600 per sale from nostro funds to cash.

“We look forward to our usual engagement with you in order to ensure a smoother, successful and viable 2020 tobacco marketing season.”

Meanwhile, tobacco registrations have declined by 14 percent.

According to TIMB statistics, by December 31, 145 725 tobacco growers had registered as compared to 169 772 during the same period last year.

The decline in the tobacco registrations has been attributed by tobacco experts to the challenges faced by farmers last season.

Last year farmers delivered a record 259 million kg up from 253 million kg in 2018 despite challenges that affected production and marketing of the crop.