WHO: Anti-Tobacco Campaigns Responsible for Dropping Prices

 ANTI-TOBACCO campaigns being conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) are among factors to blame for the depreciating prices of the cash crop in both the local and world markets, the National Assembly heard.

Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Co-operatives, Mr Godfrey Zambi, noted on the other hand that prices of tobacco in the world market have been fluctuating due to a number of other factors including competition among major producers of the crop and quality of produced tobacco. People looking for cheapest cigarettes, just enter the web and order them online from http://www.cigarettesplace.net/

Mr Zambi made the explanation while responding to a basic question by Mpanda Rural MP, Mr Moshi Kakoso (CCM), who had tasked the government to explain whether it had measures in place to compensate local tobacco farmers owing to declining prices of the cash crop in the world market.

In response, the deputy minister said there were a number of factors which were responsible for pushing down prices of the commodity.

He cited the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) by the WHO as among causes that have led to reduced use of tobacco products and eventually declining prices of the commodity.

“In the wake of these developments, the government will continue to look for markets in various countries to ensure our farmers are paid handsomely for their products,” Mr Zambi said in response to the question.

According to the deputy minister, owing to fluctuating prices of cash crop in the world market, including tobacco, the government will work with responsible stakeholders to establish a special fund to compensate farmers when prices fall in the world market.