Tobacco farmers have been urged to embrace the emerging International market for tobacco to earn maximum profit of their produce.

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According to Kenya Tobacco Farmers Association (Ketofa) Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Wanguhu Tobacco farmers in Kenya are likely to earn up to Sh800 per kilo for grade A tobacco if they import their yield to China, India, Argentina, Chile or Taiwan.

This will see farmers earn up to four times the current rate in Kenya where a British American Tobacco ( BAT) is paying Sh220 per kilo of grade A tobacco.

“Farming is a time and resource consuming venture that demands proper remuneration. Though the association has been on the forefront to fight for prices increment BAT has not yet headed to our calls,” he said.

Although China is the leading tobacco producer in the world with 2.4 million tonnes which represents a third of the global production, most of it is processed into cigarettes to meet the huge domestic appetite.

“China is buying a kilo of grade A cured tobacco at Sh891, India Sh769, Argentina and Chile Sh737 and Taiwan Sh720,”he said.

This comes at a time when tobacco farmers in the country in Migori County which produces up to 71 percent of the country’s 22000 tonnes of tobacco are contemplating abandoning the crop, citing poor prices from cigarette manufacturers in the country.

“The average cost of production of a kilo of tobacco is estimated Sh271. This means, a tobacco farmer in Kenya is incurring a loss of at least Sh50 per kilo, considering that the highest quality is paid at Sh220 per kilo,” he adds.

Early this year, over 5000 contacted tobacco farmers in the country faulted BAT’s pricing model which is based on leave quality, terming it oppressive. Tobacco is divided into grades A,B and C. Farmers are paid Sh50 per kilo of the lowest grade.