Harare – The Tobacco Industry Marketing Board said more than 1 000 bales of tobacco went under the hammer at the tobacco mop up sales conducted at the floors on Tuesday.

Mop up sales is the opportunity given to farmers who could not finish delivering their last crop before the close of the floors.

According to TIMB, the tobacco mop up sales for the 2018 agriculture season have been conducted at the Tobacco Sales Floor with a few farmers who could not deliver all their tobacco when the auction floors officially closed on July 30 selling their golden leaf.

The industry regulator described the 2018 season as the best after breaking a new record in volumes and expressed satisfaction over how the mop up sales was successfully conducted.

“We always conduct mop sales to give farmers an opportunity to clear their remaining crop. It has been a wonderful season, breaking a new record. So far a total of 100 bales went under the hummer during clean up sales,” said TIMB chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri.

He added that over 249 million kilogrammes of tobacco are expected this season.

According to TIMB the mop up sales ended yesterday while contract sales will continue until buyers account for the entire tobacco farmers are yet to deliver.

Meanwhile, listed cigarette manufacturer, British American Tobacco (BAT)’s tobacco empowerment plan for young tobacco farmers has helped to increase national tobacco output.

With revelations that the country this year breached the 220 million kilogrammes record of 2000, it is the initiatives of corporates such as BAT of supporting young farmers that has contributed to this stellar performance.

BAT Head Legal and External Affairs, Mr Mduduzi Lokotfwako said through their tobacco empowerment plan, they help young farmers with technical and financial assistance.

The tobacco industry is one major contributor to the country’s GDP as it is the leading foreign currency generator for the economy after mining.

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