TIMB announces beginning of tobacco selling season

Multiple Vacancies At Premier Tobacco Auction

Zim Now Writer

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board has announced that the 2023 Auction tobacco marketing season is opening on March 8.

TIMB acting chief executive officer, Emmanuel Matsvaire said auction marketing will be the first to open on March 8, followed by contract sales on March 9.

“All stakeholders are advised that the 2023 auction tobacco marketing season opens on Wednesday 8 March 2023″.

“Sales at other licenced auction floors will start at 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday 8 March 2023. Contract tobacco sales will open on Thursday 9 March 2023.

“Advantages of selling tobacco to the contractor who provided inputs include, prompt payment, fair buying price as set by the TIMB price matrix, arbitration, and help from TIMB in cases of complications as well as business continuity,” he said.

Tobacco Farmers Union Trust vice president Edward Dune said farmers were looking forward to a rewarding tobacco marketing season.

“The playground has to be level in terms of pricing. Let the price matrix reward on the basis of quality. No merchant should be a farmer’s favourite given that some are paying more for the same quality,” he said.

TIMB has warned farmers against side-marketing their crops in the run-up to the season’s opening.

Side marketing is a form of contract default where contracted farmers sell their tobacco to third parties in breach of the contractual agreement which states that tobacco shall only be sold to or bought by the contractor who provided inputs to the farmer.