ZIMBABWE'S tobacco farmers could make rich pickings when the auction floors open next week as the world's main competitors expect low yields owing to floods.

Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive officer Dr Andrew Matibiri said Brazil and the United States had their crops swept away by floods.He said the situation will create a deficit in the world market.Dr Matibiri was giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Water, Lands and Resettlement chaired by Chikomba Central MP Mr Moses Jiri (MDC-T).

Goromonzi North MP Cde Paddy Zhanda (Zanu-PF) had asked Dr Matibiri to speak on how Zimbabwe's tobacco would fare.

Dr Matibiri said Zimbabwe, Brazil and the US were the three countries producing flue-cured tobacco, and the floods that affected the other two countries leave Zimbabwean farmers with an advantage.

 "It is estimated that Brazil's production will be down by about 150 million kg, while the American crop has also been affected by 50 million kilogrammes and these are Zimbabwe's two main competitors," said Dr Matibiri.Avoid last season's chaos at tobacco auction floors

"This means Zimbabwe's tobacco is likely to be sold at a premium."

Dr Matibiri said last year China imported 120 million kg of tobacco, of which 40 million kg came from Zimbabwe, and it still wanted more of Harare's flue-cured tobacco.

Testifying before the same committee, TIMB chairperson Mrs Monica Chinamasa said selling tobacco will be hassle-free this marketing season following the licensing of four auction floors.

When last year's season opened, she said, only one floor - Tobacco Sales Floor - was operating thereby creating huge congestion.

"We have toured these four auction floors to assess their preparedness and had a checklist of critical areas and we were quite happy," Mrs Chinamasa said.

"Their banks were also there to say they are ready to pay farmers. It will take only two hours before farmers are paid once they deliver their crop."

Mrs Chinamasa said each auction floor will have a minimum of three banks on site.

Asked what they were doing to ensure that tobacco growers registered ahead of the marketing season, Mrs Chinamasa said that was a perennial challenge despite awareness campaigns being done.

She said 35 000 farmers had so far registered, compared to 66 000 that did so last year.

"You will still have a certain percentage of growers not registering, what can you do? You can't send them away, but assist them. But they will be delayed," said Ms Chinamasa.

Mhondoro-Ngezi MP Cde Bright Matonga (Zanu-PF) said during last year's sales, growers complained about corruption and favouritism, particularly by police officers controlling queues who allowed their superiors to jump the queues.

Mrs Chinamasa said such complaints arose because there was only one floor operating.

She said they were assessing applications by two more firms to open auction floors.

An early Valentine’s treat for Tuku fans                          

 Zimbabwe's music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi, is set to wow patrons in an early Valentine offering, at a dinner dance to be held at the Rainbow Towers this Friday. Tuku and the Black Spirits will be jamming his katekwe music, which fits the bill in the Valentine's mood with its soul-catching nature, at the show organised by the Corporate Communications Strategies.

The co-ordinator of Ezents, an affiliate group of the Corporate Communication Strategies, Tamuka Makovere, confirmed the developments.

"All is set for the music superstar to perform at the Rainbow Towers on Friday.

"Corporates should expect an enthralling occasion as Tuku will be performing some songs like ‘Panerudo' which go along with the occasion," said Makovere.

Tuku will belt out some of his other love ballads that include "Ndiwe Svovi Yangu" and the collaboration song he did with South African artiste Ringo Madlingozi, "Sthandwa Sami".

These are typical Valentine songs as they would enhance the intimate companionship, which has since become the month's norm. As Geoffrey Chaucer put it: "For it was St Valentine's Day when every bird comes there to choose his mate," in his poem ‘Parlement of Faules'.

Hampers will be won at the occasion with the best-dressed couple and individual to be awarded.

"We will be giving away prizes for the best-dressed couple and individual at the occasion," he said.