Tobacco farmers face ruin – Chief Chanje

…laments that 13 companies which were contracted to buy the crop did not fulfil their obligation, leaving thousands of farmers stranded with the commodity even after investing their last money borrowed to finance their farming activities

By NATION REPORTER
GOVERNMENT has abandoned tobacco farmers who have been left stranded with over two million metric tonnes of tobacco after spending thousands of Kwacha much of which was borrowed from lending institutions, Chief Chanje has lamented
Chief Chanje of Chipangali says in his personal capacity as a traditional leader, he is in fact stranded with 80 bales of tobacco, wonders how bad the situation could be with his subjects, most of whom are depending on tobacco farming.
Speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, Chief Chanje said there were 13 private companies which had promised to buy the crop but had suddenly withdrew without stating any reasons.
“We are not happy as tobacco farmers. My people’s children cannot now be looked after well because their parents are broke and in debt and worse, stuck with a product which could easily spin money.
I appeal to Government through the Tobacco Board of Zambia to urgently intervene in this matter before citizens are utterly plunged into utter poverty,” he said.
The traditional leader said most of the farmers had obtained loans to finance their production of tobacco but it seemed Government had a different agenda and the Minister of Agriculture Mr Mtolo Phiri had remained mute over the issue, urging him to attend to the citizens.
On Sunday, Chipangali Council chairperson Maxson Nkomba called on the government to urgently address concerns of tobacco farmers stranded with their produce in Eastern Province.
Mr Nkhoma said government had both the mandate and responsibility to ensure that issues affecting the farming community were handled with the urgency they deserved.
He expressed sadness over the situation, noting that farmers were stuck with over two million metric tonnes of tobacco while little progress was being made to resolve the matter.
He warned that the crisis was threatening the livelihoods of thousands of hardworking farmers and risked undermining the agricultural potential of the province.
Mr Nkhoma has since appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to take personal interest in the issue, stressing that the well-being of farmers was directly tied to national food security, rural development and economic growth.