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Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) Farmers Trust has urged farmers to report corrupt officers and transporters who demand bribes to have their tobacco sold quickly.
President of the Trust, Abiel Kalima Banda, said farmers complain of corruption every year but none comes out to name perpetrators of the vice.
He said their silence has waned existence of the vice despite it eating up their benefits.
This came out during the 2020 annual area meeting that took place at Mphomwa Tama Depot in Kasungu recently.
“Farmers lose money by giving bribes looking for favours but we have always said the process does not need them to bribe anybody and we can help end this if only they come in the open,” Banda said.
Director of Agricultural Extension Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Jerome Chimgonda, said there is need for further civic education to curb the vice.
“Farmers lack information not only on marketing processes but also contract farming, climate change and other things, as such they do no satisfy the requirements for example during grading and transportation,” Chimgonda said.
Tobacco remains Malawi’s major foreign exchange earner. Last year at market season closure, a total of 165.68 million kilograms (kgs) were sold at an average price of $1.43 per kg.
Credit: Times Online
