Buyers "Exploiting" Malawi's Growers

Source from:  tobaccoreporter.com Thursday, July 6, 2006 07/07/2006

Malawi's president, Bingu wa Mutharika, has accused tobacco buyers operating in the country of exploiting local tobacco growers, according to a report on Tobacco China Online quoting local sources. He backed his remarks by saying that buyers last year paid an average of $0.90 per kg but resold the tobacco for US$4.30 per kg. Mutharika is angry over the apparent refusal of buyers to pay the reserve price of $1.10 per kg that he set when opening the tobacco buying season earlier this year. Limbe Leaf managing director and chairman of the Tobacco Exporters' Association of Malawi, Charles Graham, expressed concern over the remarks by the president. Enditem