The Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) is optimistic about favourable pricing in this year’s tobacco marketing season.
According to a statement from the industry regulator Tobacco Commission, the market will commence on April 10, 2024.
The marketing season for the country’s “Green Gold” will start with the opening of Chinkhoma Auction Floors in Kasungu, which will be graced by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera.
TAMA president, Abel Kalima, said they are banking on the favourable prices considering the low production against high demand of the green gold on the international market.
“Dry spells that the country has experienced affected this year’s tobacco production but farmers who have still managed to produce the leaf will be very lucky as that translates into high pricing,” concluded Kalima.
At the end of last year’s marketing season, tobacco had fetched $282 million for Malawi after trading 120 million kilogrammes of the leaf.
This was a 55 percent increase from 182 $million recorded in 2022 where 85 million kilogrammes were traded.
Tobacco remains Malawi’s main export and foreign exchange earner seconded by tea and sugar on the third position.
Reported by Evelece Ching’ambe
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