Fifty thousand kilogrammes of burley tobacco grown by independent farmers in Eastern Province is stuck due to lack of market.
Eastern Independent Tobacco Growers Association Director James Nyirenda has confirmed to Breeze News.
Mr. Nyirenda says that the association has written to government through Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kasolo to assist find market.
He says that the more than 100 farmers who grew the crop are in desperate need of assistance as they are failing to send their children to school.
Mr. Nyirenda says that TBZ, Tobacco Board of Zambia has been telling farmers to wait but the farmers are worried because their colleagues, who were sponsored, are selling the crop.
He says that the farmers hope that government can use the same system like last marketing season, when TBZ were asked to buy the crop from independent growers.
And Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kasolo says that government understands the plight of independent tobacco growers and will start looking for market.
Mr. Kasolo stated that government will also look at the possibility of having JTI mop up the tobacco which independent growers are failing to sell.