The Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made told ZBC News that tobacco auction floors are ready to open in February depending on the preparedness of farmers to deliver enough crop to kick start the marketing season.
ZBC News reports that the move by government to open auction floors earlier this year has been welcomed by farmers, who indicated that they have intensified harvesting and curing of the golden leaf in readiness for the early opening of the floors. If the plans by government are implemented, the early opening of the floors is expected to boost foreign currency inflows, ease liquidity challenges and improve cash flows for the farmers.
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