The government has complained that the campaigns
being carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) against tobacco
smoking has negatively impacted on prices for Tobacco products in the
world market, thus also affecting local farmers.
This was said yesterday in Dodoma by the Deputy Minister for
Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Godfrey Zambi during
question and answer session in the House.
Zambi was responding to a basic question by Moshi Seleman Kakoso
(CCM-Mpanda rural) legislator who wanted to know what were government
plans to compensate tobacco farmers who suffer losses due to the decline
of crop prices.
Responding, Zambi told the national assembly that cautioning the
use tobacco by WHO under its campaign dubbed Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (FCTC) has led to a decline in tobacco use, causing a
sharp drop of the crop’s prices
Deputy Minister explained that the decline of tobacco price in the
world were caused by many factors, including a highly competitive
product , but at present the major reason for the decline is the
campaign carried out by WHO.
“In dealing with price decline challenge the government in
collaboration with the tobacco stakeholders have prepared a special fund
called price stabilisation fund for helping farmers when the prices
drop,” Zambi noted.
The Minister said that cabinet documents that propose the establishment of the fund to compensate farmers are in final stages.
He added that the government continues to encourage investment in
the construction of factories for making cigarettes which will help to
increase the value of tobacco instead of exporting semi processed one.
Zambi told the parliament that the government is committed to
seeking for more tobacco markets so as to deal with the challenge of
market fall.
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