Soon after President Lazarus Chakwera officially opened the 2024/2025 Tobacco Market Season at the Auction Holdings Ground in Lilongwe, farmers protested against low prices, forcing it’s suspension.
The farmers claimed that most tobacco was being bought at around 1$ per kilogram, with few bags, perhaps for the President to see, were bought over 3$ per kilogram.
One of the farmers, Memory Chikuwi told Nation Online that, with the current prices, they would be unable to pay their tenants, let alone settle their National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) loans.
NEEF disbursed over MK62 billion under Farm Inputs loan in the 2024/2025 financial year and over 55,000 clients have benefited with 419,424 acres of land cultivated.
“Imagine buying fertiliser at K140,000 and the tobacco fetching such low prices. This is unsustainable. If the buyers feel they cannot purchase our tobacco, they must fold up and leave,” said Chikuwe
Harrison Kachimera, another farmer, concurred with Chikuwi and stated that if buyers are not ready to purchase the tobacco, they should leave.
He added: “We would rather keep our tobacco without a market and explore alternatives, than have someone exploit us in this manner.”
In his remarks, Chakwera said there is need to safeguard the interests of tobacco farmers, by recognising their crucial role in shaping the country’s economy.
He said tobacco farmers are pivotal in stabilising the Malawi Kwacha and generating foreign exchange, which supports the country’s development.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale commended farmers for producing high-quality tobacco, a development that has impressed both the ministry and tobacco buyers.
He expressed optimism that this year’s market season will offer favourable prices for farmers who have brought quality tobacco to the market.
He revealed that this year’s tobacco production has increased to 170 million kilograms, up from 133 million kilograms last year, adding that buyers had previously shown willingness to purchase up to 200 million kilograms.
