Africa-Press – Malawi. Agriculture Minister Sam Kawale took a swipe at tobacco farmers in Limbe on Monday during the opening of the market, describing acts of disrupting sales as barbaric and a desperate attempt to gain fame.
This followed a sale disruption early in the day, when one of the farmers lashed out at stakeholders involved in sales for offering $1.15 per Kilogramme (kg) for his bale of tobacco.
Soon after his shouting over the matter, a lot of farmers who were in the market surrounded stakeholders involved in sales, which prompted a temporary suspension of sales.
Farmers lamented low prices, which they said were not reflective of the cost of production.
“We were expecting prices of not less than $2 per kg as was the case on the open day of the market last year. The $1.10 per kg price is not enough for a farmer to break even when you consider the cost of production,” Patrick Muchera, a farmer from Phalombe District, said.
But speaking to the farmers after he toured the market, Kawale said there was no better reward for poor tobacco.
Godfrey Chapola“Our policy remains unchanged; good tobacco will be rewarded, bad tobacco will be rejected,” Kawale said.
Tobacco Commission Board Chairperson Godfrey Chapola condemned nesting, smuggling of tobacco and failure to meet demand on the market.
Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) Trust President Abiel Kalima Banda said sentiments that last year’s prices were higher than this year were unfounded.
“I am impressed with the prices offered because all grades have been offered at prices that are higher than the set minimum prices,” Banda said.
JTI Leaf Malawi Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications Limbani Kakhome said the quality of the leaf determines the price for the tobacco.
On the opening day, the highest prices recorded on the auction market was $3.20 per kg while the highest price on the contract market was $3.25 per kg.
The lowest price seen was $1 per kg.
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