BUYERS DEMAND LOW PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO NEXT SEASON

Despite Tobacco is the country’s main forex earner, this year tobacco market has been affected by overproduction as  the result the Tobacco buyers in the country have demanded  the low production of crop next year to ensure good market.

Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) has confirmed receiving the pledges that the buyers will only budget 151.1 million kilogrammes of the leaf in the forthcoming 2016/2017 growing season, a drop of 7.1 million kilogrammes that were demanded during the last growing season.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, TCC Executive Director, Alfred Changaya, said that among the three types of tobacco that the country grows, the drop has affected burley which is now 123.6 million kilogrammes from 132 million kilogrammes.

“The total pledge of volume for tobacco that we have received so far for the next season shows a drop from last year. Burley is now at 123 million kgs, dark-fired tobacco 4.5 million kgs while Flu-cured will be 23.6 million kgs,” he said.

In a Comment, Tobacco Association of Malawi’s (Tama) Head of Marketing and Business Development, Felix Thole, said if farmers are able to produce according to what buyers are looking for, they will get premium prices in the 2016/2017 season.