Wed, 13 Dec 2017 12:37:43 +0000 By Buumba Chimbulu TOBACCO farmers are now assured of a ready local market following the commissioning of an industrial complex in Lusaka which will add value to the green leaf that is currently exported with no value addition. The US$80 million tobacco industrial complex which was launched this week by Roland Imperial Tobacco Limited (RITCO) currently produces tobacco by way of an outgrower scheme. RITCO chairperson, Ephraim Mwenda, said the complex would offer a ready market for tobacco farmers while supporting more merchants support the Zambian farmers through outgrower schemes or contract farming. “This company currently produces tobacco in Zambia by way of an outgrower scheme and is the leading producer in Zimbabwe. Zambia will see a growth in green leaf production, which has been on the decline since 2012,” he said. Dr. Mwenda observed that Zambia had in the recent times seen a decline in the volume of […]
