Tobacco farmers and other stakeholders in the industry yesterday expressed satisfaction with the good prices offered at the opening of Limbe Auction Floors in Blantyre for the 2023 Tobacco Marketing Season.

The highest price on contract market was recorded at $2.60 (about K2 693) per kilogramme (kg) while on the auction market, the highest price was $2 (about K2 072) per kg.

Tobacco remains Malawi’s number one foreign exchange earner amid several shocks

The Limbe market opened just after 8am with 2 050 tobacco bales sold through the two market systems.

Business News random checks showed that most of the bales were sold at not less than $1.40 (about K1 450) per kg, which is the minimum price for the crop this year.

In an interview, Frank Naphambo, a tobacco farmer from Matawa Village, Traditional Authority Kaduya in Phalombe, said this year’s opening prices are better than last year.

“This is definitely a good start. We hope to continue on this path. The labour vested in the crop has paid off,” he said.

Representatives of tobacco grower associations could not hide their excitement with the better-than-expected good prices that characterised the opening of the market.

Tama Farmers Trust president Abiel Kalima Banda in an interview said: “We have seen something new. Many farmers have been affected by Cyclone Freddy in this part of the country, but the quality is good; hence, good prices compared to last year.

“We hope this will continue for the entire season so that farmers reap from the hard labour.”

Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Dixie Kampani, who officially opened the Limbe Floors, said he was happy with the prices offered on the first day, saying they are within and above the set minimum prices for different tobacco grades.

He said: “The quality of tobacco that farmers have brought is better than last year.

“It is encouraging that farmers are committing to do better in the industry as this industry can improve if farmers follow advice.”

Tobacco Commission board chairperson Godfrey Chapola encouraged farmers to continue bringing good quality leaf on the floors to fetch good prices.

“We encourage buyers to continue offering goods prices and our farmers to continue producing quality leaf to revive the tobacco market which remains the largest foreign exchange earner,” he said.

Tobacco still remains Malawi’s main foreign exchange earner.

President Lazarus Chakwera opened the Tobacco Marketing Season last Wednesday at Lilongwe Auction Floors whereas Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale opened Chinkhoma Floors in Kasungu on Thursday.

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