Tobacco farmers earnings up

By Robert Nyasato

Tobacco farmers in the country earned Sh536 million from 4.87 million kilogrammes of the crop delivered to British America Tobacco (BAT), this year.

The 5,000 farmers contracted to BAT from the tobacco growing regions of Nyanza, Eastern and Western provinces earned on average Sh100,000 each in the last planting season.

A report released by BAT country Leaf Operations Manager, Mr Opiyo Wandanyi during a field tour of Nyanza at the weekend, showed farmers’ earnings went up from Sh87 per kilo of cured tobacco last year to Sh110, this year.

"Tobacco growers across the country are realising improved returns each planting season following improved crop husbandry and attractive prices offered by BAT," Wandanyi said while releasing the report at Oyani Leaf Base.

Tightened Controls

Last year, the farmers delivered 3.78 million kilogrammes of tobacco to BAT fetching Sh330 million at Sh84 per kilo of cured tobacco, Wandanyi said.

He was accompanied by Oyani Leaf Manager Simon Maina.

This was an increase in price and crop delivery from 2007 when the growers earned Sh329 million from four million kilogrammes they delivered. A kilogramme of tobacco fetched Sh82.

 

 

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