Tanzania: Tobacco prices up 10 times, farmers eye more output

Tobacco prices in Tabora Region have shot up to 4,000/- per kilogramme this season, compared to 300/- and 400/- in the previous seasons, attributed to the availability of reliable buyers and the quality of the product. The rise in tobacco prices, which is 10 times compared to the previous period, has become a huge incentive for small scale tobacco farmers in the region who vowed to enhance production and take advantage of price hike. The DAILY NEWS paid a visit to some markets in the region, recently, and found tobacco sellers and buyers busy grading the products, with growers affirming that timely availability of farm inputs was one of the reasons behind the price rise. Uyui District Executive Director (DED), Mr Hemed Magaro commented that an increase in tobacco buyers (companies) led to stiff competition; hence, price rise since everybody scrambles for the best products. According to him, several local investors keep on venturing into the business, a reason behind the stiff ...