The 2024 tobacco market in the Northern Region has opened today at Mzuzu floors, with about 3,718 tobacco bales sold.
Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Geoffrey Mamba, has opened the market.
One of the farmers, Tony Mwenitete, who grows his tobacco in Mzimba District, expressed joy as his tobacco fetched $3.10 per kilogramme, the highest offer on contract market.
Another grower, Henry Wilikani, who brought in five bales, said he too was happy as he has sold his tobacco at $2.99 on the auction market.
One of the buyers, Hail and Cotton, through its managing director, Topkins Silundu, said they will continue offering good prices for the commodity.
Mzuzu floors is receiving low volumes of tobacco, with reports that most of the leaf is not dried up yet.
The tobacco market season brings hope for foreign currency availability.
The 2024 tobacco market season was officially opened by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera at Chinkhoma in Kasungu last month.
By George Mkandawire
