Zimbabwe's Tobacco Farms Get High-Tech Upgrade.
Zimbabwe's tobacco board wants farmers to use fingerprints when they sell their crops. This new system helps stop cheating and makes sales smoother.
Farmers can sign up at eight cities across the country. They need to bring their ID card to get their fingerprints recorded. The board promises to keep their information safe.
"Once we have your fingerprint, no one can mess with your farmer number," said the tobacco board. The system lets farmers quickly check their sales, loans, and insurance.
Victor Mariranyika, who leads a farmers' group, likes the new plan. He says many farmers already joined, and others can sign up before or during sales time.
George Seremwe from another farming group thinks the change should have come earlier. But he wonders if there's enough time to use it this year. The sales start in just a few weeks.
The board made this change after finding problems with farmer numbers. Last year, they had to kick out 37,000 farmers who broke the rules. The law says each farmer can have only one number, and they can't give it to anyone else.
Breaking these rules can lead to big trouble. Farmers might pay fines or spend time in jail. The board wants everyone to follow the rules and sell their tobacco the right way.
Liam Philp, who represents commercial farmers, says new technology helps everyone do better. But he wants to ensure that all farmers can use the new system. "We must help everyone learn the new way," he said.
The change shows how farming in Zimbabwe keeps getting more modern. It helps honest farmers and makes the tobacco business better for everyone.
Zimbabwe's tobacco board wants farmers to use fingerprints when they sell their crops. This new system helps stop cheating and makes sales smoother.
Farmers can sign up at eight cities across the country. They need to bring their ID card to get their fingerprints recorded. The board promises to keep their information safe.
"Once we have your fingerprint, no one can mess with your farmer number," said the tobacco board. The system lets farmers quickly check their sales, loans, and insurance.
Victor Mariranyika, who leads a farmers' group, likes the new plan. He says many farmers already joined, and others can sign up before or during sales time.
George Seremwe from another farming group thinks the change should have come earlier. But he wonders if there's enough time to use it this year. The sales start in just a few weeks.
The board made this change after finding problems with farmer numbers. Last year, they had to kick out 37,000 farmers who broke the rules. The law says each farmer can have only one number, and they can't give it to anyone else.
Breaking these rules can lead to big trouble. Farmers might pay fines or spend time in jail. The board wants everyone to follow the rules and sell their tobacco the right way.
Liam Philp, who represents commercial farmers, says new technology helps everyone do better. But he wants to ensure that all farmers can use the new system. "We must help everyone learn the new way," he said.
The change shows how farming in Zimbabwe keeps getting more modern. It helps honest farmers and makes the tobacco business better for everyone.
