Zimbabwe’s tobacco farmers plead for a better deal
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Under the new tobacco-selling regulations put in place since the coronavirus pandemic struck, Zimbabwe’s farmers receive 60 percent of their tobacco payments in United States dollars and the balance in Zimdollars, Zimbabwe’s local currency [File: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters]
Tobacco is a bright spot in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, but wait times for crop payments and exchange-rate roulette can wreak havoc on farmers’ profits.
Harare, Zimbabwe – Bornface Batwero sits languidly in the driver’s seat of his lorry outside the Tobacco Sales Floor – an auction venue in the capital Harare where farmers gather from around Zimbabwe to sell their crops.
Harare, Zimbabwe – Bornface Batwero sits languidly in the driver’s seat of his lorry outside the Tobacco Sales Floor – an auction venue in the capital Harare where farmers gather from around Zimbabwe to sell their crops.
It’s mid-morning on a Monday. Batwero told Al Jazeera he was still waiting to receive payment for a consignment of tobacco he had sold on Friday, when he arrived from Centenary, a rural area in Mashonaland province, some 144km (89 miles) northwest of Harare.
“I am waiting for my payment later today,” said the 37-year-old tobacco farmer. “I don’t know how much they are going to pay me.”
Tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe call for better deal Agriculture News
Harare, Zimbabwe – Bornface Batwero is sitting in the seat of the driver of his truck sitting outside the Tobacco Sale floor – the capital of Harare is the place for auctions, where farmers gather around Zimbabwe to sell their crops.
It’s mid-morning on Monday. Batwero told Al Jazeera he was waiting to receive payment for the consignment of tobacco he sold on Friday when he arrived from the Centenary, a rural area of Mashonaland province, 144 km (89 miles) northwest of Harare.
“I am currently awaiting my payment,” said the 37-year-old tobacco farmer. “I don’t know how much they’ll pay me.”
Al Jazeera
Bornface Batwero sits languidly in the driver’s seat of his lorry outside the Tobacco Sales Floor – an auction venue in the capital Harare where farmers gather from around Zimbabwe to sell their crops.
It’s mid-morning on a Monday. Batwero told Al Jazeera he was still waiting to receive payment for a consignment of tobacco he had sold on Friday, when he arrived from Centenary, a rural area in Mashonaland province, some 144km (89 miles) northwest of Harare.
“I am waiting for my payment later today,” said the 37-year-old tobacco farmer. “I don’t know how much they are going to pay me.”