Planting of tobacco for 2012/2013 has started with great hopes of increasing hectarage compared with last year, with enough seed having been sold to cover 116,000 ha., according to the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB).

TIMB Chief Executive Dr. Andrew Matibiri said sales of seeds are already 14 per cent higher than last year. The increase is in part attributed to new farmers attracted by the good prices fetched for last year’s crop. According to the TIMB some 140 million kgs of tobacco were sold last year. (pi)