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 Preparations for the commencement of the tobacco marketing season on the 15th of this month have intensified, with all the four floors putting final touches to meet the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board ‘s (TIMB) set standards for them to operate.
The TIMB recently released a checklist for tobacco auction floors with stipulated conditions that auction floors should meet before they are qualified to accept any tobacco deliveries expected to begin on the 9th of this month.
These conditions include availability of ablution facilities, adequate security, a sound financial state, health care facilities as well as a proper canteen and accommodation facilities for farmers.
However, a survey conducted by ZBC News has shown that some of the auction floors are well-prepared for the commencement of the season with others still undertaking renovations.
Boka Auction Floors Director of Special Projects, Mr. Moses Bias and Millennium Auction Floors Public Relations Officer, Ms Koliwe Mudakureva both said their floors are ready to host farmers for the rest of the marketing season.
A new player, Premium Tobacco Auction Floors, is still making renovations.
Meanwhile, efforts to check on the state of Tobacco Sales Floor’s preparedness were fruitless after authorities barred ZBC from filming their premises.
The officials also declined to give a comment on the state of their preparedness saying ZBC should wait for the official visit by the TIMB.
Lasts season’s tobacco marketing period was characterised by chaos at some of the country’s auction floors as farmers feared for outbreak of diseases due to lack of proper ablution and canteen facilities.
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