By Suleman Chitera
The Malawi Government has stepped in to address growing concerns from tobacco farmers over high rejection rates at auction floors, with Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Mbilizi leading urgent engagements with key industry players
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During a series of meetings held on Wednesday, Mbilizi emphasized that no tobacco should be purchased below the cost of production, underscoring government’s responsibility to safeguard farmers from financial losses.
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“We have an obligation to protect our farmers. Buying tobacco below the cost of production is not acceptable,” Mbilizi stated, signaling a firm policy stance aimed at stabilizing the sector.
The discussions brought together major tobacco buying companies, including Nyasa Tobacco Buying Company, Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company, Hail & Cotton Malawi Limited, Associated Central African Limited, JTI Leaf Malawi Limited, Premium Tobacco Malawi Limited, African Tobacco Services and Alliance One Tobacco Company.
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Farmers have recently raised concerns over excessive tobacco rejections at auction floors, a development that has threatened incomes in one of Malawi’s most critical export sectors. The high rejection rates have forced many growers to either accept lower prices or incur additional costs to reprocess their leaf.
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Following the talks, the companies committed to honoring their contractual obligations by purchasing all contracted tobacco. They also pledged to buy additional volumes through the auction system, a move expected to ease pressure on farmers and improve market access.
The government’s intervention comes at a crucial time in the marketing season, with expectations that stricter compliance and fair pricing mechanisms will restore confidence among growers and enhance transparency in tobacco trading.
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Tobacco remains Malawi’s top foreign exchange earner, making stability in the sector vital for both rural livelihoods and the national economy.
