Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Tobacco farmers from across the country are up in arms against the Tobacco Association of Zambia (TAZ) management over what they have termed as the mismanagement of the tobacco sector in the country.
The tobacco farmers are disappointed with the association and other companies for suing government following its decision to put the tobacco sector in order through the introduction of statutory instruments number 85 and 84.
On 13th of February, the Tobacco Association of Zambia sued the Ministry of Agriculture alleging that the statutory instruments in question would disadvantage them.
One of the farmers Benjamin Chisha says government has been very supportive to tobacco farmers accusing taz of trying to continue with the alleged destruction they have brought to the tobacco sector.
Mr. Chisha explains that the si’s are only meant to bring order in the sector by allowing the minister of agriculture to stipulate the period of registration of tobacco farmers and control the market.
Another tobacco farmer Saidi Phiri has asked government to emulate Zimbabwe which has invested massively in tobacco farmers as the sector has the potential to contribute to the country gross domestic product (GDP).
Mr. Phiri has also advised government to realize that TAZ has become irrelevant to tobacco farmers as it has placed interest in making profits for itself at the expense of the farmers.