Latest statistics from the Tobacco Control Commission show that burley tobacco, which is mainly grown by small scale farmers has so far earned $7.8 million, 56 percent below last year ’s $17.8 million on the auction market.
The volumes traded for burley stand at 8.3 million kilogrammes against last year’s 11.7 million kilogrammes representing a 29 percent drop.
The average price for burley tobacco was at $1.51 per kilogramme last year while this year it is at $0.93 per kilogramme.
On the contract market, farmers are getting better prices for the same burley as average prices stand at $1.43 per kilogramme while last year, the average price was at $1.68 representing a 15 percent drop.
Contract burley has further earned the country $83 million as compared to last year’s $145.5 million.
Overall, revenue from tobacco continues to fall behind last year’s earnings, with the green gold so far earning $119 million compared $183.5 million realised during the same period last year.
This represents a 35 percent drop in revenue.
So far, 78 million kilogrammes have gone through the auction against last year’s 106 million kilogrammes representing a 26 percent drop.
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