Zimbabwe's Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has so far disbursed US$ 875 million to tobacco farmers for the purchase of inputs under its 2006/07 tobacco input
credit scheme.

The organisation said yesterday more than 5,000 small-scale growers had benefited from the scheme. "Loan processing is ongoing and beneficiaries will increase as more fertiliser becomes available," TIMB said.
From the growers who have benefited, Mashonaland West province has the highest number with 2,319, followed by Mashonaland Central with 2,081, Mashonaland East (1,270) and Manicaland with 620 farmers.
Mashonaland West province leads in the hectarage put under tobacco at 3,473 ha, Mashonaland Central 3,396, Mashonaland East 1,981 and Manicaland 953 ha. The TIMB said loan repayments for 2005/06 were very encouraging at 90.25 per cent compared with 80 per cent in the previous year.
About US$ 110 million was disbursed for input purchases last season, which produced 55 million kilogrammes of tobacco.
Meanwhile, the TIMB said transplanting was in progress with the major challenge being shortage of basal fertiliser (Compound C). "Farmers are being encouraged to plant without
fertiliser which they will apply when it becomes available in the next few weeks," it said.
It also discouraged farmers from cutting down trees for curing tobacco unless they have planted woodlots for this purpose. The tobacco marketing body said it had placed an order
for coal with Hwange Colliery Company as part of efforts to assist growers procure the commodity. TIMB , in conjunction with Agribank, launched the input credit scheme a few years ago to assist farmers with working capital and procurement of inputs. The scheme caters for A1, old resettlement and communal farmers. TIMB gives tobacco farmers inputs while Agribank provides working capital. (sra)