Dealers fight farmer price rise

Tobacco dealers in Tanzania, who are in a dispute over prices, are said to be reluctant to supply tobacco seeds to farmers, according to a story in The Citizen.

The dealers are apparently concerned about a move by the Tanzania Tobacco Board (TTB) to raise prices from $2.20 per kg to $2.48 per kg.

The reluctance of the dealers to supply seeds to tobacco farmers is expected to impact the current growing season, presumably by delaying it at the least.

Tobacco dealer Wilson Urio was said to have called on the TTB to involve dealers in decision making.

He called for a dialogue between the TTB and dealers in order to set prices that ‘wouldn’t affect sellers and buyers’.

“Although we have already purchased tobacco seeds, we aren’t distributing them until the misunderstanding about prices is settled,” said Urio.

Meanwhile, the TTB chairman Said Nkumba urged dealers to distribute seeds while the board deliberated on their concerns.

The chairman for the Nsajo farmers’ union, Hamis Musa, said the delay in distributing tobacco seeds might affect production in the coming season.