TOBACCO SELLING SEASON ROLLS OUT

Her Excellence Dr Joyce Banda on Monday called on buyers to sustain better prices of Malawi’s green gold.

She said this in Lilongwe at Kanengo Auction where she presided over the official opening of this year’s Tobacco selling season.

The leaf fetched the highest price of $ 2.10 but some farmers expressed fear on the sustainability of the high prices.

Henry Mangani one of the farmers said:

 “Being a campaign period we expect better prices for the leaf. We expect the good prices to continue however it is surprising that tobacco is being bought on low prices.”

Addressing a rally after opening the market in Lilongwe, President Banda said the green gold remains Malawi’s major cash crop, hence the need by both farmers and buyers to treasure its trading.

“We expect to have more and quality tobacco flowing into the market. I ask farmers to bring good quality tobacco at the auction floors and buyers to offer good prices for the leaf. You should match the quality of the leaf with good prices,” said President Banda.

Tobacco Control Commission(TCC) announced government  minimum prices last week, saying burley tobacco will be sold at US$1.76 while flue cured tobacco will be sold at US$2. 65 with dark fired tobacco going at US$2.10 per kilogram.

Tobacco remains Malawi’s major cash crop, contributing 13 percent to the Gross Domestic Produce GDP.