Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale has urged farmers in the country to strictly adhere to supplying good quality leaf at the ongoing auction market for them to reduce rejection rate and obtain maximum earnings from their product.
The Minister made the call Wednesday during the official opening of the Mzuzu Auction Floors where he also expressed satisfaction with the prices offered by the buyers, saying that will translate into economic benefits to the individual farmers and the national economy.
“Mzuzu market has started well. We have seen good price offers the past two days. The statistics have been impressive. Let me quickly say there have been similar trends at Lilongwe, Chinkhoma and Limbe Auction Floors,” he said.
Kawale said current economic forecast indicate that tobacco contribution to national economy will increase by 50 per cent this year.
The minister has also disclosed that Chinese government has signaled to buy more of the country’s leaf on annual incremental volume from now onwards.
Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) President, Abel Kalima Banda expressed satisfaction with the ongoing prices offered by the buyers at the floors.
