Tobacco Board of Zambia told to find market for Independent growers

Tobacco Board of Zambia TBZ has been challenged to immediately sort out the issue where independent farmers are stuck with their produce due to lack of market.
Chipata District Farmers Association Coordinator, Virgil Malambo says that TBZ has the responsibility of ensuring that the farmers have market where to sell their crop.
Mr. Malambo told Breeze News this morning, that the farmers who work hard to become independent growers should be encouraged and not discouraged.
He also noted that TBZ needs to realize that tobacco is not like maize which can be stored in granaries as it will lose quality.
Mr. Malambo further charged that farmers cannot smoke the tobacco or easily dispose it off because it is a drug.
Merchants have indicated that they will only buy from independent growers after buying all the cash crop from farmers who they sponsored.