Fuel shortage being experienced in the country is affecting preparations for the forthcoming tobacco- planting season, the Zimbabwe Association of Tobacco Growers said 11 August 2005.

President of the Association Julius Ngorima said that most farmers were failing to access the commodity for use in tilling the land. He said though preparations for the coming season are underway throughout the country, fuel shortages were hampering land preparations. The country is experiencing fuel shortages, as a result of lack of foreign currency, but both the government and the central bank were working frantically to resolve the problem. (pi)