The Tobacco Board of Zambia -TBZ- has proposed that the Tobacco Act No. 10 of 2022 be revised to give the board a clear mandate on tobacco price formulation and curb the exploitation of small-scale farmers.
TBZ Chairperson Dr. Phil Daka said the current legal framework does not expressly empower the board to fix tobacco prices, limiting its ability to protect farmers during marketing seasons.
Dr. Daka explains that under the current act, it is not within the jurisdiction of the board to fix tobacco prices and is proposing that the law be revisited so that TBZ can have a clear mandate on price formulation.
He tells Phoenix News that tobacco prices are determined by quality, and small-scale farmers are often disadvantaged because they produce lower-quality leaf due to limited mechanization.
Dr. Daka adds that small-scale farmers depend on rain and traditional curing methods and cannot compete with highly mechanized commercial farmers when it comes to production quality, thereby leaving them vulnerable.
He however notes that despite the legal gap, TBZ is actively engaging tobacco buyers to promote fairness and transparency in the market.
-PHOENIX NEWS