The Tobacco Board of Zambia TBZ is still struggling to find money to pay farmers, who sold tobacco to the board in Eastern Province.
Chief Executive Officer, Samson Muyembe has told Breeze News that TBZ is still scouting for money.
Mr. Muyembe declined to reveal how much the board owes farmers but indicated that it is less than 10 million Kwacha.
He says that TBZ had already paid out about 10 million Kwacha to some of the farmers in Eastern Province.
And Mr. Muyembe says that TBZ is aware that its delay to pay the farmers will impact negatively on the preparations for next farming season.
He however, assured the farmers that TBZ is doing everything possible to ensure that it finds money to pay them as soon as possible.
And Mr. Muyembe says that to avoid a similar situation where TBZ is forced to buy tobacco from independent growers, all farmers should avoid growing tobacco without sponsorship from companies.