The quality of the leaf cutters is the best with a hope that its prices will be higher than the leaf on the market now,’’ She said.
By Vincent Gunde- Malawi Exclusive
The official opening of 2022 tobacco marketing season at Chinkhoma Auction Floors in Kasungu has started on a good note with the highest price fetched 2.50 Dollars per Kg and the lowest was 95 Cents which is above 70 cents Minimum price.
Chinkhoma has become the third Auction Floors to be open after Lilongwe and Limbe with Mzuzu the last to be open giving hope to Malawi that tobacco remains the largest forex earner driving the economy of the country.
Speaking after she officially open the marketing season on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Madalitso Kambauwa-Wirima MP, said she is impressed with the quality of the leaf and prices which are being offered with hope for improvements.
Kambauwa-Wirima said the leaf being bought is not the best but the prices are good saying the leaf cutters are just getting into the floors which its quality and price will be higher than the bottom leaf expressing optimistic that buyers will buy it at higher prices.
“The quality of the leaf cutters is the best with a hope that its prices will be higher than the leaf on the market now,’’ She said.
She assured farmers that the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to monitor the good price being offered to ensure that growers reap from their sweats enjoying farming as a business, dismissing claims that tobacco industry has decline in Malawi.
The Minister said at first there were 9 buyers for the leaf and the figure has been added to ten with one buyer resident in Malawi describing this as an achievement to offer competitive prices at the Auction Floors.