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Spotlight on 2012 tobacco season |
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Thursday, 16 February 2012 19:04 |
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 Hopes are high that this year’s tobacco marketing season will go down in agricultural history as a success story, riding on optimism and improved conditions.
But most farmers still have questions on whether issues relating to pricing, cash availability and other logistical nightmares which have characterised past seasons can really be a thing of the past.
Last season’s tobacco marketing season was characterised by chaos at the auction floors.
This was primarily caused by the overwhelming turn up by farmers which saw the then three auction floors failing to cope.
Farmers spent days and weeks waiting for their turn to sell their crops. In the process, some were duped while others ended up using more money than they had budgeted for as vendors and other vultures descended on the auction floors to also have a bite of the cake.
This year, the tobacco selling season opened on a higher note, with government pledging its commitment to ensure that it is a success.
With the number of auction floors having increased from three to four this season, there are expectations of reduced congestion as well as better prices.
Last year, farmers had to grapple with problems of delayed payments, congestion and sanitation.
However, Managing Director of newly-licensed Premier Tobacco Auction Floors, Philemon Mangena claims significant strides have been made in addressing the problems.
Players in the industry say they are in talks with banks to ensure that cash is readily available.
But will the increase in the number of auction floors automatically solve farmers’ problems?
Analysts say farmers need to be educated on the importance of following procedures, arguing that the problem of congestion is self-inflicted as they do not value booking in advance.
So far prices have been good and growers hope that the seasonal dip which usually occurs midway into the season will not come back to haunt them in 2012.
But with news that traditional tobacco growing giants Brazil and the US have experienced problems with floods, one hopes the local farmer will not be fleeced only for buyers to make a killing on the international market.
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