Government assures support towards tobacco industry

Government has assured its commitment to support tobacco industry to ensure the industry continues to be a pillar to the country’s economy.

Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale made the remarks Monday when he opened tobacco market at Limbe Auction Floors in Blantyre, saying the tobacco industry generates a lot of revenue for government’s developmental projects.

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“The money that government gets from tobacco sales is used for many development projects such as roads construction. This is why we ensure that laws that regulate the industry benefit farmers and at the same time are not impinging buyers,” he added.

President of Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) Farmers Trust, Abiel Kalima Banda, asked government to link tobacco farming to mega farms, saying this will build the capacity of farmers to meet buyers’ demands.

“We must thank government for the tobacco laws that were passed in parliament. This will ensure opening of tobacco markets in time and allow negotiation with buyers to buy tobacco at better prices,” he added.

Board Chairperson for Auction Holdings Limited (AHL) Group, Daniel Makata, said the company was impressed with how the tobacco market has started, noting that Limbe Auction Floors have the capacity of selling over 5,000 bales of tobacco a day.

“We are happy with the prices. It is our hope that good prices will be maintained throughout the season and that farmers will receive their money in time,” he said.

A local tobacco farmer from Machinga District, Jackson Sinyala, expressed disatisfaction with tobacco selling prices on the opening day hope, saying minimum price was too low compared to last year’s price when the same quality was at $2 per kilogramme.  

 Another farmer, Ronex Nthawira, concurred with Sinyala’s observations, saying, “Due to drought that we experienced this season, we used irrigation method which turned out to be costly.

“Buyers should also consider price of farm inputs when pricing our tobacco,” Nthawira added while hoping for better prices going forward.

2025 tobacco market season was officially opened by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on April 9 in Lilongwe where some farmers expressed satisfaction with prices while others hoped for better prices, as sales continue at the Lilongwe floor.

Chinkhoma Auction Floor in Kasungu opened on April 11 whereas Mzuzu floor is scheduled to open on April 28.