By Vincent Gunde
Concerned tobacco farmers from Bolero in Rumphi district, have written a letter to Malawi Government for a round-table discussion on the upward adjustment of the 2024-2025 tobacco selling prices which have become a serious concern to all.
The farmers have argued that buying tobacco at a price less than 2.00 Dollar as compared to the high cost of production, farmers will not manage to realize any profit proposing the lowest grade to be at 2.00 Dollar with the highest be 4.00 Dollar.
They say the prices of farm inputs including fertilizers have almost doubled for instance, a bag of Super D compound was at the average of K90,000 and currently, the price is at the average of K180,000 requesting government to consider adjusting the prices.
“We request Malawi Government through Tobacco Control Commission, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, and all Tobacco Buyers to consider the prices so that we at least make profit with our only green gold which brings forex in the country,” reads the letter in part.
Speaking through an audio clip, Political activist Bon Kalindo, has described the 2024-2025 tobacco selling season as the worst ever that farmers have invested a lot to come out with the quality leaf and buying their tobacco at a price less than a Dollar is a total insult to them.
Kalindo has claimed that tobacco prices in Malawi are stolen through legislative laws, banks and politics advising tobacco farmers that this is not the time of pleasing politicians who are gaining more money through their sweats.
He has congratulated tobacco farmers that have already sold their tobacco in Zambia or Mozambique for realizing more profits from their sweats other than taking their tobacco to the Auction Floors to be bought at a price of putting them into slavery.
The activist has noted with a great concern that tobacco farmers of Rumphi and other districts in the northern region have long outstanding case with the SFFRFM for expired fertilizers last growing season observing that government is not on their side, they are fighting alone and this time, they should fight for tobacco prices alone.
“No time wasting, engaging government on adjustment of tobacco prices will yield nothing, take your tobacco to Zambia or Mozambique for good prices,” said Kalindo.
He has finally advised tobacco farmers that they are living in a democratic Malawi saying the tobacco is theirs and them have the right to take their tobacco to wherever they want for better prices other than someone dictating for them their tobacco prices.
