HARARE-- As the annual tobacco sales season in Zimbabwe approaches its close this year, the number of bales being rejected for different reasons continues to decline compared with the same period last year, says the industry regulator, the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB).
The main reasons for tobacco being rejected at the point of sale include bales being overweight, underweight, bad handling resulting in excessive or inadequate moisture and moulds, or farmers rejecting the price offered.
The latest statistics which the TIMB has released show that 110,992 bales have so far been rejected, translating to a 4.3 per cent drop from the 115,930 bales rejected last year during the same period.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZFCU) Director Jeremiah Tevera said the drop could be a result of experience in handling the crop which farmers would have acquired the previous farming and selling seasons.
Farmers would have learned something from previous seasons and addressed the quality issues which ultimately leads to a lower rate of rejection, he said.
He added that awareness of quality requirements was also rising, leading farmers to increase the quality of their produce.
So far, at least 2,273,223 bales have been sold since the tobacco marketing season opened on March 21 this year.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK
