The current flue-cured tobacco selling season is coming to an end with just over half of the expected crop having been delivered to the auction floors.

Acorrding to local media reports, the tobacco sales at 43 million kg are slightly above half of the 77 million kg expected to be delivered to the floors this season.
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) settled for 26 September as the last day of the selling season. Final deliveries are expected to be made by 25 September 2008.
"All growers are advised to complete their grading and baling operations by 22 September at the very latest. If delivery volumes are high, sales may be continued beyond the final date, to be announced in due course," said Dr Andrew Matibiri, TIMB's acting chief executive.
Some farmers interviewed said the season was likely to go beyond the official closing date as some farmers were still battling to prepare their crop. "There is a significant amount of tobacco that is still being cured because there have been problems with the procurement of coal. We are also faced with high diesel and transport costs," said a grower.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Tobacco Research Board has announced that the 2008/2009 tobacco farming season will start with a higher incidence of aphids than in previous years. In a statement, Kutsaga Research Station’s Crop Protection Division reported there had been a prevalence of the tobacco bushy-top virus and PVY in the past season. The tobacco aphid is the main carrier for the transmission of these diseases. (pi/sc)