THE irritating noise, chaos and congestion that has characterised the tobacco marketing season for the past three years could now be history since the 2012 marketing season has provided a peaceful environment for farmers to conduct their business.
A visit to the tobacco auction floors by The Financial Gazette's Farming revealed that the four auction floors have dealt with the perennial problems that had blighted the tobacco marketing season.
Unauthorised traders that always contributed to the chaos and congestion associated with the auction floors have been permanently removed; there are police posts within the auction floors to deal with all warranted incidences.
All the four operating auction floors, Boka Tobacco Floor, Tobacco Sales Floor, Millennium Tobacco Floors and Premier Tobacco Floors, have constructed clinics which are manned by qualified staff and canteens that provide adequate and hot meals for the farmers.
Most farmers expressed satisfaction at the prices being offered at the floors and the good marketing environment created by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board and said they wished the prices could continue to firm as the quality of the leaf improves.
However, this has not been the case during the past few seasons where instead of firming, prices have weakened as the season progresses.
A farmer from Hurungwe, Melody Mamire, said the environment had changed drastically and for the good of the farmer.
"Over the years we have had to deal with unscrupulous traders, thieves and prostitutes usurping our husbands and many of us lost money and health along the way. But this year things are different; we are at peace and fair marketing is prevailing."
"There are no traders to influence us and good accommodation has been provided at the floors. We can plan peacefully without incidents such as theft," Mamire said.
Another farmer from Centenary, Spencer Lunga, said farmers did not expect the prevailing situation to change or go out of hand.
"If one sells at 0800 hours, by 1000 hours the cheque will be ready for collection. I brought 10 bales and sold them at an average price of US$4,05However, farmers complained that contractors were paying them extremely low prices compared to auction prices.
"I sold bales at Tobacco Sales Floor at US$4,90 per kg and the same leaf produced from the same barn sold for US$2,00 per kg. This is daylight robbery. Last year, we had to deal with unwanted traders, this year the contractors are taking more than their share. This is not fair pricing by the contractors," Juliet Mugadzi, from Inyathi Mine, lamented.
"As farmers, contractors accuse us of side-marketing but the reason we side market is that contractors are not being fair. They are ripping us off. Farming is a labour intensive business and most of us use family labour. Buyers should offer good prices," Mugadzi said.
Mugadzi, who has been a farmer for six years, had to sell 11 bales to repay her US$1 400 loan although it would have cost her four bales to repay the loan if she had sold her bales through the auction system.
The top quality leaf has been bought for an average price of US$4,71 per kg, medium quality leaf for US$4,22 per kg, and low quality leaf for US$3,31 per kg.
The provision of proper ablution services and boreholes at auction floors have shown that the tobacco auction floors are prepared to deal with cholera or typhoid diseases in cases of outbreak during the 2012 marketing season since the City of Harare has failed to control the typhoid outbreak since October last year.
Kudakwashe Nyangombe, of Karoi, who brought in five bales, was extremely happy with the prices and the peaceful marketing environment at Boka Tobacco Floors.
"I sold my bales for US$4,76 per kg, US$4,21 per kg, US4,75 per kg, US$4,71 per kg and US$3,29 per kg. These are good prices and I expect to return soon with more bales. Although the growing season was a difficult season because some of us had to re-plant because of the late rains but the market prices are fair."
Franicis Marabada, of Centenary, brought in 32 bales which were sold at an average price of US$4,10 per kg and expressed satisfaction that he had received his cheque early and was already preparing to return to Centenary.
"This year we are getting paid early so that there is no time to consort with prostitutes and traders. We buy our groceries in town and all our inputs are available at the one stop shop provided by the auction floors," Marabada said.
Last season, there was chaos at the auction floors when farmers protested against poor prices that had slumped to as low as US$0,50 per kg because buyers had run out of money. The industry had to temporarily suspend tobacco sales as farmers refused to sell their crop at such low prices.
This year, the auction floors have a combined selling capacity of 36 000 bales per day. The floors have enough capacity to sell all auction tobacco in less than 50 selling days provided growers book in advance to void congestion.
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